| Hives (medically known as urticaria)
are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes
and sizes. They range in size from a few millimeters to several
inches in diameter. Hives can be round, or they can form rings or
large patches. Wheals (welts), red lesions with a red "flare"
at the borders, are another manifestation of hives. Hives can occur
anywhere on the body, such as the trunk, arms, and legs.
Hives are frequently caused by allergic reactions;
however, there are many non-allergic causes. For example, most cases
of hives lasting less than six weeks (acute urticaria) are the result
of an allergic trigger. Chronic urticaria (hives lasting longer
than six weeks) are rarely due to an allergy. The majority of patients
with chronic hives have an unknown cause. Perhaps as many as 30-40%
of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria will, in fact, have
an autoimmune cause. Acute viral infection is another common cause
of acute urticaria (viral exanthem). Less common causes of hives
include friction, pressure, temperature extremes, exercise, and
sunlight. It may be true that hives are more common in those with
fair skin.
One hallmark of hives is their tendency to change size rapidly
and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in
other places, often in a matter of hours. Individual hives usually
last two to 24 hours.
Types of Urticaria
Acute urticaria
It usually show up a few minutes after contact with the allergen
and can last a few hours to several weeks. Food allergic reactions
often fit in this category. The most common food allergies in adults
are shellfish and nuts. The most common food allergies in children
are shellfish, nuts, peanuts, eggs, wheat, and soy. It is uncommon
for patients to have more than 2 true food allergies. A less common
cause is exposure to certain bacteria, such as streptococcus or
possibly Helicobacter pylori. In these cases, the hives may be exacerbated
by other factors.
Chronic urticaria
It refers to hives that persists for 6 weeks or more. There are
no visual differences between acute and chronic urticaria. Some
of the more severe chronic cases have lasted more than 20 years.
A survey indicated that chronic urticaria lasted a year or more
in more than 50% of sufferers and 20 years or more in 20% of them.
Of course this does mean that in almost half the people it clears
up within a year and in 80% it clears up within 20 years or less.
Drug-induced urticaria
It has been known to result in severe cardiorespiratory failure.
The anti-diabetic sulphonylurea glimepiride (trade name Amaryl),
in particular, has been documented to induce allergic reactions
manifesting as urticaria. Other cases include dextroamphetamine,
aspirin, penicillin, clotrimazole, sulfonamides and anticonvulsants.
Physical urticarias
They are often categorized into the following:
• Aquagenic: Reaction to water (exceedingly rare)
• Cholinergic: Reaction to body heat, such as when exercising
or after a hot shower
• Cold (Chronic cold urticaria): Reaction to cold, such as
ice, cold air or water - worse with sudden change in temperature
• Delayed Pressure: Reaction to standing for long periods,
bra-straps, elastic bands on undergarments, belts
• Dermatographic: Reaction when skin is scratched (very common)
• Heat: Reaction to hot food or objects (rare)
• Solar: Reaction to direct sunlight (rare, though more common
in those with fair skin)
• Vibration: Reaction to vibration (rare)
• Adrenergic: Reaction to adrenaline / noradrenaline (extremely
rare)
Causes of Urticaria
EXOGENOUS CAUSES
INSECT BITES
• Nettles, wasps, bugs, caterpillars.
PLANTS
• Nettles.
• Exposure to extremes of heat and cold, sun.
ENDOGENOUS CAUSES
FOODS
• Fish, prawns, eggs, strawberry, masroom.
• Food preservatives.
• Artificial colours.
DRUGS
• Salicylates.
• Bromides.
• Iodides.
• Focal sepsis
PARASITES
• Round worm.
• Tape worm.
• Hook worm.
• Hydatid disease.
• Filariasis.
PSYCHOGENIC
• Emotional stress.
• Over-exertion.
SYSTEMIC DISEASES
• Rheumatiod Arthritis
• Systemic Lupus Erythmatous
GENETIC PREDISPOSITION
• Angioneurotic oedema.
CLINICAL FEATURES
ONSET
• Abrupt.
LOCATION
• Any part of skin may be affected.
• Mucous membranes of lips, mouth, pharynx, larynx.
• May be localised or generalised.
SYMPTOMS of Urticaria
• Intense itching.
• Burning.
• Sense of heat.
LESION
• Starts as red erythematous macules.
• Soon paleoedematous wheals develop.
• Irregular, asymmetrical.
• Velvetty to touch.
• Erythema well defined, fades on pressure.
• Subside within few hours without leaving any trace.
• Dermographism positive.
• Wheals develop along line of scratching or pressure.
COMPLICATIONS
• Angioneurotic oedema.
• Onset: sudden.
• Swelling of skin, mucous membranes.
• Common sites involved: eyelids, tongue, lips, glottis, genitalia,
trunk, hands, feet.
• Wheals large, extensive.
• Lasts from few hours to few days.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT of URTICARIA
• Reassurance.
• Identify and eliminate offending agent.
• Correct underlying cause.
• Avoid precipitating causes.
• During acute attack:
o Simple, bland diet.
o Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol.
Homeopathy Treatment & Homeopathic Remedies for Urticaria
• Apis.
• Arsenicum album.
• Bovista.
• Chloral hydrate.
• Dulcamara.
• Formica rufa.
• Hepar sulphur.
• Nat.mur.
• Nux vomica.
• Pulsatilla.
• Rhus toxicodendron.
• Sepia.
• Sulphur.
• Urtica urens.
APIS MELL.
The characteristic of urticaria is the stinging & itching
as if from bee stings. The itching is always worse at night. The
urticaria may consist of isolated elevations which are quite painful
& tender to touch; these later become purple or livid. There
is slight fever & heat of skin, accompanying urticaria. There
is burning pain.
Generalized anasarca as a strong concomitant to the urticaria. Change
of weather, warmth, & exercise cause troublesome itching &
burning urticaria. The urticaria is worse during both chill as well
as fever. The urticaria sometimes accompanies asthmatic troubles.
Adapted to the strumous constitution; glands enlarged, indurated;
scirrhous or open cancer. Women, especially widows; children and
girls who, though generally careful, become awkward, and let things
fall while handling them.
ARSENIC ALBUM
Arsenic causes urticaria with burning and restlessness. It is also
useful for persistence of complaints during recession of the urticaria.
The urticaria may occur after eating shellfish. Urticaria gets worse
at the sea-shore and due to sea bathing.
Great Prostration, with rapid sinking of the vital forces; fainting.
The disposition is:
a. Depression, melancholy, despairing, indifferent.
b. Anxious, fearful, restless, full of anguish.
c. Irritable, sensitive, peevish, easily vexed.
The greater the suffering the greater the anguish, restlessness
and fear of death. Mentally restless, but physically too weak to
move. Indicated by its periodicity and time aggravation: after mid-night,
and from 1-2 a.m. And by its intense restlessness, mental and physical:
its anxiety and prostration.
BOVISTA
The urticaria of bovista covers nearly the whole body. There is
burning, itching of a type which is not relieved by scratching and
comes on more at night. Urticaria which is caused by tar: the itching
is worse on getting warm. Urticaria with a disposition to diarrhea.
Each stool is followed by tenesmus. The other concomitant symptoms
of urticaria are scorbutic gums. Inflammation of the eyes, metrorrhagia
and various mental symptoms.
Persons who suffer from tettery eruptions, dry or moist. Adapted
to old maids with palpitation. Stammering children. Discharge from
nose and all mucous membranes very tough, stringy, tenacious. Usually
deep impression on finger, from using blunt instruments, scissors,
knife, etc. Intolerance of tight clothing around the waist. Sweat
in axilla, smells like onions.
CHLORAL HYDRATE
The urticaria of chloral hydrate is characterised by its periodicity.
It disappears by day and comes on by night with such intense itching
as to prevent sleep.
DULCAMARA
Hives come on at night, especially when the nights are cool, with
heavy dew, after a hot day or when weather changes from warm to
cool and damp; urticaria with violent cough and oedema of glands;
feverish urticaria, obliging one to scratch and burning after scratching,
every eruption being preceded by sensation of pricking over whole
body; eruption of white, irregular blotches raised upon the skin,
surrounded with red areola, appearing in warmth, and disappearing
in cold and extremities, face, chest and back, violently itching
and burning after scratching, headache, want of appetite; nausea,
bitter taste, vomiting, intense aching in pit of stomach and praecordial
region, restlessness and sleeplessness, night-sweats turbid, dark
urine, diarrhea, pains in limbs. Urticaria from gastric disorders.
Aggravation of sufferings, chiefly in the evening or at night, an
during repose, better by movement. Pains with coldness of the body.
NAT. MUR.
The skin of nat-mur is characteristically dirty, unhealthy and
greasy, with a yellowish colour. There is great rawness and soreness
of the skin, beginning at the feet and gradually ascending. Urticaria
around joints with great itching, especially above the ankles. Eruptions
itch, smart and burn after exposure to cold damp air, near the seashore
and in intermitent fever. Itching is particularly worse from physical
exercise. Urticaria may even be over the whole body with large red
intensely itching blotches.
For the anaemic and cachectic, whether from lots of vital fluids-
profuse menses, seminal losses- or mental affections. Great emaciation;
losing flesh while living well. Throat and neck of children emaciate
rapidly during summer complaint. Great liability to take cold. Irritability:
child cross when spoken to; crying from slightest cause; gets into
a passion about trifles, especially when consoled with. Awkward
, hasty, drops things from nervous weakness. Marked disposition
to weep; sad weeping mood, without cause, but consolation from others
<. her troubles.
PULSATILLA
Hives of gastric or uterine origin. Urticaria from pastries or
pork or delayed menses. Urticaria with diarrhea, itching is worse
night. Patient is chilly all the time, even in a warm room.
Adapted to persons of indecisive, slow, phlegmatic temperament;
sandy hair, blue eyes, pale face, easily moved to laughter or tears;
affectionate, mild, gentle, timid, yielding disposition- the woman's
remedy. Weeps easily: almost impossible to detail her ailments without
weeping.
RHUS-TOX
Vesicular urticaria from getting wet, during rheumatism, with chills
and fever, worse in cold air. Patient has itching all over; worse
on hairy parts with burning after scratching.
Adapted to persons of rheumatic diathesis; bad effects of getting
wet, especially after being over-heated.
SEPIA
Chronic urticaria with burning, stitching and itching which gets
worse on exposure to open air. The urticaria first appears on face,
neck and forearms and then gradually spreads over the whole body.
The attacks are preceded by nausea and pressing headache with face
swollen as in erysipelas. Urticaria on upper body breaks out in
cold air and disappears in a warm room. Eruption in the form of
wheals as if due to blows with a whip or rod.
Adapted to persons of dark hair, rigid fibre, but mild and easy
decomposition.
SULPHUR
The urticaria of sulphur is found on the face, arms, on back of
hands, neck and lower extremities. Urticaria with fever. Itching
urticaria over the whole body, hands and feet. Eruptions alternate
with other complaints. There is voluptuous itching which is worse
at night, worse when in bed and worse after scratching and washing.
Scratching is followed by burning.
Adapted to persons of a scrofulous diathesis, subject to venous
congestion; especially of portal system. Persons of nervous temperament,
quick motioned, quick tempered, plethoric, skin excessively sensitive
to atmospheric changes. For lean, stoop-shouldered persons who walk
and sit stooping like old men. Standing is the worst position for
sulphur patients; they cannot stand; every standing position is
uncomfortable. Dirty, filthy people, prone to skin affections. Aversion
to being washed; always <. after a bath.
URTICA URENS
Itching and burning of the skin as if scorched; raised red blotches;
fine stinging points; pale rash requiring constant rubbing; consequences
of suppressed urticaria; eruption and itching disappears as soon
as she lies down and reappear immediately afterrising. There is
oedema of the face, chest and limbs without inflammation. Urticaria
affects patient every year in the same season. Site of urticaria
is face, arms, shoulders, scalp. Vomitting and diarrhea from suppression
of urticaria.
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