Showing posts with label Hives and Angioedema. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hives and Angioedema. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Prevention Of Hives And Angioedema

To reduce the risk of urticaria or angioedema know, take the following precautions:

Avoid known triggers. This may include certain foods or medications, or situations such as extreme temperatures, which have led to past allergic attacks.

Keep a journal. If you suspect a food is causing the problem, keep a food diary. Be aware that some foods may contain ingredients that are listed by less common names on the label.

Treatment Of Hives And Angioedema

Stop all food, medicines, cosmetics or other substance identified as the cause of urticaria or angioedema.

In very mild cases, no treatment may be necessary.

If symptoms are uncomfortable, take an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine without a prescription (Benadryl) by mouth for the package instructions or as directed by your health care provider, until symptoms subside. These can be effective in mild. Sedating antihistamines such as diphenhydramine may cause too sleepy to drive or operate machinery safely.

Cool compresses or baths can help the discomfort.

Avoid hot baths or showers.

Avoid direct sunlight.

Wear light, loose clothing.

Avoid intense or anything that might cause sweating.

Try to relax and reduce stress.

Severe reactions: Do not attempt to treat severe reactions or to wait outside at home. Go immediately to the nearest emergency room or call an ambulance. Here are some things you can do until the ambulance:

Try to stay calm.

If you can identify the cause of the reaction, prevent further exposure.

Take an antihistamine, as one or two tablets or capsules of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) if you can swallow without difficulty. The liquid form of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can also be used to 2-4 teaspoons (10-20 ml) per dose.

If you are wheezing or difficulty breathing, you should use an inhaled bronchodilator such as albuterol (Proventil), if one is available. These inhaled medications dilate the airway.

If you feel light-headed or faint, lie down and raise your feet above your head to help blood flow to the brain.

If you received an epinephrine pen and Epi-Pen injectors who were educated. The kit provides a premeasured dose of epinephrine, a prescription drug that rapidly reverses the most serious symptoms (see following).

Spectators had to administer CPR to an unconscious and breathing stops or becomes no pulse.

If possible, you or your partner must be prepared to tell medical personnel what medications you take and your allergy history.

Medical Treatment

The treatment of hives depends on the severity of symptoms. Mild to moderately severe localized symptoms, a counter oral antihistamines is usually sufficient, with measures of skin care for comfort. For more severe cases, an injection or a short-term corticosteroid may be necessary to rapidly reduce inflammation and itching.

Symptoms Of Hives And Angioedema

Urticaria is an eruption smooth, raised, pink or red bumps of various sizes called wheals. Hives appear suddenly. Papules seem a bit 'like mosquito bites. They may cover all or part of the body and are usually very itchy.

Hives usually appear first on the areas covered with skin, such as the trunk and upper arms and legs.

Papules in batches. Each wheal may last from minutes to six hours. Papules disappear, new forms. A case of hives last more than a few days.

Hives are usually fragmented at first, but the patches may work together until the hives cover most of the body.

The patches can be small or large. They are usually irregular in shape. Often the spots are clearing the redness of the red center of the ring or flare at the edges.

Itching is often very intense.

Hives are characterized by bleaching, which means that the redness disappears and the area becomes pale when pressure is applied.

Dermographism may be present. Dermographism refers to the appearance of redness, and rashes that appear after light scraping of the skin.

Angioedema is associated with hives, but they have a different look. Angioedema describes a marked swelling, usually around the eyes and mouth. It can also spread to the throat, tongue, hands, feet and / or genitals.

The skin may appear normal, without any hives or other rashes.

The closed eyes may appear swollen.

The inflammation usually does not itch, but can be painful or burning.

The bumps may be symmetrical (same on both sides of the body).

As hives, swelling of angioedema may disappear by itself.

Other, more serious allergic reactions may occur with urticaria or angioedema. The reaction may start urticaria or angioedema, and then quickly switch to more severe symptoms. Most cases of severe reactions, which can be life-threatening emergency, is called an anaphylactic reaction. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction, the symptoms are the following:

Swelling of the face, tongue or throat

Wheezing, a rough sound when you breathe

Difficulty breathing

Dysphagia

The tightness in the throat or chest

Fast or irregular heartbeat

Dizziness or fainting

Loss of consciousness

Stridor, breathing, and who is tense in the throat

Dizziness, weakness and loss of consciousness caused by dangerously low blood pressure, also called shock.

Causes Of Hives And Angioedema

When you have an allergic reaction to a substance the body to release histamine and other chemicals in the blood. This causes itching, swelling and other symptoms. Nests are a common reaction, especially in people with other allergies such as hay fever.

When swelling or welts occur around the face, lips and eyes, is called angioedema. Swelling of angioedema can also occur around the hands, feet and throat.

Many substances can trigger hives, including:

Animal dander (especially cats)

Insect bites

Medicine

Pollen

Food Seafood, fish, nuts, eggs, milk and other

Hives may also develop due to:

Emotional stress

Extreme cold or sun exposure

Excessive sweating

Disease (including lupus, other autoimmune diseases, and leukemia

Infections like mononucleosis

Hives and Angioedema Overview

Urticaria is an allergic skin reaction that is sudden. Hives themselves slightly raised, smooth, flat bumps called wheals and bruising that usually are a little 'red in color than the surrounding skin and cause severe itching. Urticaria seems a bit 'like mosquito bites.

Angioedema is like hives, only the welts are larger and form at a deeper layer of the skin. Angioedema causes severe swelling, usually of the face, near the eyes and mouth. The swelling can also occur inside the throat, causing a dangerous situation because it can close the passage of air into the lungs.

Hives and angioedema may appear together, but usually not. Urticaria is the most common skin rash that people seek emergency medical attention. One in five have hives at some point in their lives. Angioedema is less common. Hives and angioedema can occur at any age.

The medical term for hives is urticaria.

This article does not refer to a rare hereditary angioedema and severe. Hereditary angioedema involving swelling of the entire body, including internal organs.