Urticaria (hives)
What is urticaria?
The triple response:
1) Vasodilation erythema
2) Increased vascular permeability wheal
3) Axon reflex flare
Dermatographism:
Patients develop linear wheals at the site of stroking the skin – may have intense itching.
Linear raised red lines after scratching
More common in third trimester of pregnancy
Treatment:
Identify allergen
Antihistamines
Acute urticaria
Aetiology – foods, drugs, viral infections, bites, stings
Clinical features:
Characteristically have itchy red raised pink plaques with no scales that are in a different place each day
Treatment:
Antihistamines
ACE inhibitors, NSAID’s, aspirin should be avoided as can exacerbated
Cold Urticaria:
Urticaria develops after exposure to cold
Clinical features:
Lesions develops on fingers after cold exposure
Also can get swelling of head, face and ears – get a feeling of “fullness” of the throat
Treatment:
Antihistamines
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