Urticaria is a common skin problem
characterized by development of itchy, transient weals (red patches) on the
body. The number of weals and the severity of the condition is highly variable.
These can also be associated with swelling of lips or any other part of the
body.
Urticaria occurs because
of release of some mediators like histamine and serotinin in the body from
immune cells resulting in a state of dilatation of blood vessels and increased
leakiness of vessels resulting in collection of fluid in the skin; as this
fluid gets reabsorbed the lesions disappear. The trigger for release of these
mediators can be allergic or even non-allergic. Traditionally it was always
considered that the main cause of urticaria was an immediate hypersensitivity
reaction to an allergen that entered our body by way of ingested food or medications,
inhaled pollen & dust etc or injected allergen like medications or insect
bites. But now it is understood that very few of the urticaria are actually
caused by a hypersensitivity reaction. In many of cases of urticaria the
trigger cannot be identified.
Sometimes
urticaria can be associated with life threatening situration where because of
laryngeal edema patients might suffer from choking sensation and if not treated
urgently with appropriate medication it can result in death. So anytime there
is a choking or breathing difficulty associated with urticaria it is very
important to rush to a nearby hospital immediately. These situation are handled
by injection of adrenaline.
In
case of a hypersensitivity reaction the triggers can be anything and
subjective, so it’s very difficult to identify a trigger as anything can
trigger it. Some foods are commonly implicated they include Foods with
artificial coloring agents, Sea foods - fish, prawns, egg, peanuts, cashew
nuts, chocolates, milk derivatives - cheese, panneer, khova, soya, Tomatoes,
drumsticks, Strawberry etc.
Treatment of urticaria can be challenging as it is
very difficult to identify the triggers. Treatment might involve long term use
of antihistamines. Different individuals respond to different antihistamines.
The optimal aim of treatment is to have reasonably good control of rashes with
as minimum medicines as possible.
Many a times urticaria may go into remission but the
duration of time required for tolerance to develop is unpredictable.
Posts
