What is the Meaning & Definition of Urticaria

Urticaria is a form of disseminated allergic reaction that affects the skin and mucous membranes, is mainly related to the consumption of certain foods or certain medications.
Injuries that accompany the hives are characterized by being raised reddened areas whose coloration disappears with pressure, these lesions are called habones and are commonly known as hives, it is characteristic that they are accompanied by intense itching. These lesions may occur in a localized area or form disseminated throughout the body.
At the level of the mucous membranes urticaria is accompanied by swelling, especially of the eyes and the lips, congestion of the conjunctiva with tearing and redness and congestion of the mucosa of the nose with Crystal secretion at that level.

Urticaria is a hypersensitivity reaction

Urticaria is an exaggerated response of the immune system against a strange element, even before physical changes such as exposure to direct sunlight or temperature changes in particular the passage of heat to the cold that is capable of activating some substances called cryoglobulins.
Triggers of hives lead to the production of a substance called histamine, which is responsible for the symptoms that accompany this disorder.
In some cases urticaria manifests itself after a physical stimulus in the skin such as scratching or pass any object on it, this generates linear lesions with a path similar to the object that originated it known as dermographism.

Main triggers of hives

Hives can be triggered by any substance, once allergic to something is the reaction it will appear whenever you come into contact with the trigger, and can even worsen leading to serious complications.
Food. Allergic to any food, can be however that most often trigger episodes of hives are citrus fruits, nuts, seafood, eggs, dairy products, fish and some non-citrus fruits.
Animals. Episodes of hives can occur after exposure to the hair from animals such as cats and dogs, also by contact with mites present in dust and stings of insects such as mosquitoes.
Chemical products. Many substances in the home can develop allergies as it is the case of detergents, chlorine and insecticides.
Drugs. Almost any medication can trigger hives which produces it more frequently but is penicillin, followed in second place by NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, ketoprofen, etc.). Other medications that often produce hives are paracetamol or acetaminophen, iodine, antihypertensives of the ACE type (captopril, enalapril and lisinopril mainly), anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, gabapentin, pregabalin), vitamin complex of the type B and steroids.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.