What is the drug of choice for urticaria?

Antihistamines are the first line of therapy for urticaria. Modern second-generation antihistamines are also effective as first-line treatment. Diphenhydramine (25 mg IV or 50 mg IM or PO) or hydroxyzine (50 mg IM or PO) can be administered also and have benefit in helping patients sleep at nights.

What is the hallmark of urticaria?

Urticaria (also called hives, wheals, or nettle rash) is characterized by pruritic, erythematous, and edematous wheals [1-10]. The hallmark of urticaria is that individual lesions wax and wane rapidly, usually lasting less than 4 hours [8, 9].

Is there a cure for chronic urticaria?

The drug omalizumab (Xolair) is very effective against a type of difficult-to-treat chronic hives. It’s an injectable medicine that’s usually given once a month. Immune-suppressing drugs. Options include cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, others) and tacrolimus (Astagraft XL, Prograf, Protopic).

What is the main cause of urticaria?

The most common cause of hives is infections. Foods such as eggs, nuts and shellfish are common causes of urticaria. Medications such as aspirin and antibiotics (especially penicillin and sulfa) also are common causes of hives. Infections causing hives include the common cold, and other viral infections.

Which ointment is best for urticaria?

Calamine lotion is commonly used to relieve itching for skin reactions such as poison ivy or poison oak. It can also treat hives. If you’re not allergic to calamine, use a pad or cloth to apply calamine lotion to your skin.

Which soap is best for urticaria?

Use mild, fragrance-free soap. Avoid hot water. Limit baths and showers to 10 minutes.

What happens if urticaria is not treated?

Acute urticaria and angioedema can be part of the clinical spectrum of anaphylaxis and thus present a lethal risk if left untreated. Chronic urticaria (CU) on the other hand is a disease with major negative impact on the patients’ daily activities and can therefore worsen their quality of life.

Can urticaria affect internal organs?

Chronic hives must be monitored and treated by a medical professional as symptoms can also affect internal organs (such as the gastrointestinal tract lungs and muscles of the body), as well as lead to the development of other problems like shortness of breath, muscle aches, diarrhoea or vomiting.

When is urticaria serious?

Allergic hives are usually short lived, but allergic reactions can be severe (anaphylaxis). Hives that arise due to an infection can persist for many days and will go away on its own. In rare cases, urticaria can be chronic (lasting longer than 6 weeks), and more specialist treatment might be necessary.

Is urticaria a disease?

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a disturbing allergic condition of the skin. Although frequently benign, it may sometimes be a red flag sign of a serious internal disease. A multitude of etiologies have been implicated in the causation of CU, including physical, infective, vasculitic, psychological and idiopathic.