Is urticaria dangerous? “And contagious!

 What is urticaria?

Chronic urticaria (CU) is an irritating allergic condition of the skin and although it is often a benign skin disease, it can sometimes be a red flag of a serious internal disease.


Urticaria, also known as hives, is common in childhood. Allergic rashes are usually short-lived, but allergic reactions can be severe (anaphylaxis). Urticaria caused by infection can last for several days and go away on its own. In rare cases, urticaria can be chronic (lasting more than 6 weeks) and more specialized treatment may be necessary.

 

Symptoms of urticaria

Raised, itchy bumps that are either red or skin-colored, and symptoms can last anywhere from minutes to months or even years.
Although similar to insect bites, hives (also known as urticaria) differ in several ways:

Insect bites can appear in any area of ​​the body and can change shape and move from one place to another and begin to disappear and reappear again within a short period.
Red or skin-colored bumps with translucent edges usually appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly.
Pressure on the center of the red cell causes it to turn white, a process called “bleaching.”

 

Is urticaria dangerous?

There are two types of urticaria: short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) and neither poses a threat to life, although any swelling of the throat or other symptoms that restrict breathing require immediate emergency care.

Causes and risk factors of urticaria.

• Several etiologies have been included in the pathogenesis of urticaria including physical, infectious, vascular, psychological, and idiopathic.
• The most common cause of urticaria is a food allergy, as a child usually develops a rash and hives after eating an allergenic food.
• Given the clear causal relationship between symptoms, food intake, and the rapid onset of symptoms, this is generally an easy diagnosis.
• The child often dislikes, food and is unlikely to eat it on frequent occasions. Urticaria that arises due to a food allergy is usually short-lived (hours) and is associated with other allergic symptoms such as behavioral change, vomiting, bowel pain, or intraoral symptoms such as sore throat.
• There are many physical causes of chronic urticaria. These triggers can be cold, vibrating, or pressure triggers. For example, when a child is held tightly, their skin may develop hives or scratch marks may lead to streaks (known as dermatographism).
• In cold urticaria, hives appear in the exposed areas, especially after rapid flows of temperature.
• Heat can do this as well as ultraviolet rays, and this is known as solar urticaria. It is very rare for other causes such as water to cause hives, but there are cases known as watery urticaria.
• Children who are older at the time of exercise may develop a type of hives known as cholinergic urticaria. Children with chronic loneliness usually have hives that are exacerbated by one or more physical stimuli.
• From certain foods (especially peanuts, eggs, nuts and shellfish), medications such as antibiotics (particularly penicillin and sulfa), aspirin and ibuprofen, insect bites or bites, physical triggers such as pressure, cold, heat, exercise or sun exposure, latex, blood transfusions, and bacterial infections including urinary tract infections Urinary tract infections, sore throats, viral infections including colds, infectious mononucleosis, hepatitis, pet dander, and pollen from certain plants.

Urticaria diagnosis

Children may get hives after infection and the child may not be well at the time of the causal infection which may be something as simple as a seasonal cold and is rarely sick when the hives first start.
While these hives are often very annoying and make the child uncomfortable because they are very itchy, babies are not harmed as they are not in any way associated with severe allergic reactions.
Antihistamines are only partially successful in providing complete control of symptoms.
Hives that may be large and generalized in distribution will resolve on their own and there is no need to treat the underlying infection if the baby is otherwise healthy.

 

Permanent cure for urticaria.

Urticaria is generally considered an autoimmune condition in which the body raises antibodies against histamine-releasing cells in the skin and mucous tissues (mast cells and basophils).

Urticaria is more difficult to treat and a high dose of antihistamines will be needed more frequently and if it is not sufficient then additional, more advanced medications can be recommended. Food allergy is rarely a cause of urticaria and it may take many years before the urticaria is spontaneously outgrown.
The goal of treatment in chronic urticaria is to treat the disease so that all symptoms are gone with as few side effects as possible.
If your hives persist for more than a month or if they recur over time, see an allergist who will take a history and perform a thorough physical examination to try to determine the cause of your symptoms. Skin testing and challenge testing may also be needed to identify triggers.
Treatments range from cold compresses to relieve itching to prescription antihistamines and other medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs and medications that may modify your immune system.

When is urticaria dangerous?

If the urticaria spreads and the person develops wheezing, tight throat, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath, the individual or his or her parents should seek emergency care immediately. These individuals may need an injection of epinephrine (EpiPen) to prevent airway penetration. Patients with urticaria should Chronic contact their doctors to give appropriate treatment.

Urticaria, is it contagious?

Urticaria or hives are not contagious except in one case only if they contain viruses. These viruses can transmit from one person with the disease to another. The vast majority of hives are not contagious, as urticaria occurs frequently, especially in children and females, and in general decreases and disappears Within 1-2 days if the affected person is no longer exposed to the allergic factor and if the rash persists for longer than days or weeks, it may be called chronic urticaria.