Urticaria
also
called
nettle-rash
or hives
or
wheals
in a
common
language,
simply
means
itching
with
rash.
Medically,
urticaria
may be
defined
as skin
eruption,
which is
allergic
in
origin
and is
characterized
by
profound
itching,
red
circular
or
irregularly
shaped
eruptions
on
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any part of the body. Urticaria
is an
allergic
skin
disorder.
Characteristically
the skin
eruptions
are
erythematous,
raised
above
the skin
level,
with
intense
itching
and
usually
worsened
by
itching
& with
slight
local
warmth.
These
eruptions
can
remain
on the
body for
variable
period,
anywhere
between
few
seconds
to even
hours.
They
have
tendency
to
disappear
and
reappear.
They
tend to
disappear
without
leaving
behind
any
trace.
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Location
and
duration:
Well,
urticaria
may
appear
on any
part of
the
skin.
Angioedema
is a
condition
when
deep
tissues
are
affected.
The
typical
lesions
may last
for one
minute
to half
an hour.
Some may
last
even
longer.
Some
patients
may get
the
eruptions
once in
a while
and some
may have
many
times
during
the day.
It may
be
restricted
to a
couple
of spots
in some
patients,
while
some may
have
wide
spread
rashes
appearing
for days
or even
months
together.
There
are
acute,
subacute,
chronic
and
recurring
variants
as far
as the
frequency
and
duration
are
concerned.
Histopathological
view:
Under
the
microscope,
a
typical
urticarial
rash may
exhibit
perivascular,
cellular
infiltrate
consisting
of
lymphocytes
and
eosinophils,
is
indicative
of its
allergic
behavior.
There
are
findings
related
to
oedema
(swelling)
and
mucosal
inflammation.
The
Inner
War:
The
urticaria
rash is
a
symptom
of an
allergic
and
immunological
event
taking
place at
the
dermal
level.
The
exact
understanding
is
illusive
to an
extent.
In
brief,
urticaria
is a
hypersensitive
reaction
due to
the
histamine
release.
The
histamine
release
could be
from the
mast
cells
when
antigens
and
antibodies
(IgM or
IgG)
combine
to
activate
the
immunological
reaction.
The
histamine
release
could
IgE
induced.
There
are
certain
drugs,
pharmacological
agents
(e.g.:
antibiotics,
morphine,
aspirin,
etc.),
food
articles
(proteins,
milk
products,
etc.)
Urticaria
is a
sign of
antigen-antibody
reaction.
During
this
process
of
antibody-antigen
reaction,
histamine
and/or
acetyl
choline
is
generated
which
has the
property
of
causing
vessel
dilatation
(vasodilation)
swelling,
itching,
pain and
rash. |
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