Urticaria

Urticaria is a kind of skin disease known to the public as hives, itching and skin rashes. In very severe cases, swellings can also occur in the internal organs (especially lip, trachea, eyelids). The incidence of the disease in the society is 20-30% and it is quite common. In urticaria, skin lesions can be present all over the body and usually disappear within 24 hours. In addition to healing lesions, new bumps may occur.
 

There are 2 Forms to be Acute and Chronic

It is possible to differentiate into two groups as acute and chronic form of urticaria. In acute form; the disease improves in less than six weeks. But in chronic form; the disease may last more than six weeks and may adversely affect the patient's quality of life.

Reasons

Urticaria may be due to many different reasons.

• Allergic factors come at the beginning of the causes. Especially drugs (most commonly antibiotics, painkillers, epilepsy medications) and foods (shellfish, fish, milk, nuts, peanuts, potatoes, legumes, celery, parsley, carrots, spices, rice, bananas, apples, oranges) cause urticaria It happens. In addition, food additives, respiratory allergens (such as flower dust, tree pollen), insect bites (such as bees) and implants (such as tooth prosthesis) also cause urticaria. Urticaria is more common in allergic individuals. Because these individuals are more susceptible to the above-mentioned substances than normal individuals and react more easily.
• It may also occur due to changes in the environment and changes in body temperature. If cold foods such as ice cream are consumed in sensitive individuals, urticaria may occur. After physical exercise, urticaria may form by sweating. Urticaria may occur due to the use of a vibrating device. Along with exercise, urticaria may occur due to intake of nuts, wheat and shellfish.

Urticaria may not always occur due to allergic factors. The foci of infection in the body (such as tooth inflammation, urinary tract inflammation), radiocontrast drugs for radiological examinations, anesthetic drugs used for surgical procedures and stress urticaria.
 

Diagnosed

The majority of urticaria patients lasting more than six weeks may not be found to cause an urticaria. This situation affects the quality of life of patients who have to constantly scratch. A patient with complaints of urticaria should be evaluated very well. If the patient cannot be evaluated well and the complaints get worse, life-threatening conditions may occur. The swelling that occurs in the lips and tongue and sometimes spreads to the trachea prevents breathing of the patient and requires urgent intervention.

Therefore, careful examination should be done; The patient's daily life, occupation, habits and other diseases should be questioned very well. Special allergy tests and blood tests may be necessary to detect the cause of the urticaria. Treatment is easy in mild cases. However, treatment in the form of long-lasting illness causes distress for both the patient and the physician