Hives and angioedema are common processes: Acute hives comes to affect 15 to 25% of the general population at some point in life. This is defined by the appearance of hives (a raised skin inflammation and red) of different size, itchy anywhere on the skin, which disappear in minutes or hours, leaving the normal-looking skin. Hives may occur alone or be associated with angioedema. This is most common with Food Allergies in Evansville IN.
Angioedema is a wheal located in a deeper layer of the skin or mucous membranes. There is very little swelling and itching, and the area is usually normal in skin color. It usually affects areas of loose skin (eyelids, lips, ears, genitals) or hands and feet. Angioedema may appear alone or, more often is associated with hives. Depending on the duration, the episodes are classified as:
- Acute hives: 70% of hives are less than six weeks in duration. The cause can be identified in half the cases. To determine a single episode, diagnostic tests are not usually necessary, except if they were caused by drugs, very specific foods or bee or wasp stings. Please note that many cases are multifactorial, and many of them are more than a precipitating cause of an outbreak.
- Chronic hives: These last longer than 6-8 weeks and can be recurrent or continuous. It may be due to undiagnosed food or drug allergies, and may be associated with infections or chronic infestations (gastritis by Helicobacter pylori, parasitism or other nematodes, sinusitis, chronic dental infections, etc.), autoimmune thyroid disease and other diseases. In over half the cases, the cause remains undetermined. Because of this, Food Allergies in Evansville IN should be tested as soon as you suspect them.
Hives and angioedema are common manifestations of a food allergy, drug or insect venom. In the case of inhaled allergens, hives are a rare manifestation in people allergic to pollen, latex or some food. Hives due to physical stimuli such as weight, rubbing, the sun, cold or heat. They are immediate, short and are located at the site of the stimulus though usually generalized. Visit Accredited Asthma Allergy & Food Intolerance Center to learn more.
