Pruritus, Pale pink well defined swellings (Hives or wheals) Spreads with scratching and coalesce to form large lesions.
- Course of Lesions: Lesions last 90 minutes to 24 hours
Angioedema, Swelling in laryngeal mucosa
Exogenous (Allergens and Pseudoallergens)
- Inhalants: pollens, house dust, fungi, dander.
- Ingestants: fish, egg, brinjal , soy, milk, chocolate, nuts, (pseudoallergens - food additives, dyes, preservatives, flavors).
- Drugs : NSAIDs, Polymyxin, Vancomycin, Morphine, codeine, Penicillins, Cephalosporins
- Food likely to cause urticarial: Nuts, fish, chocolates, spices Act through type I hypersensitivity (IgE mediated)
- Food additives such as sodium benzoate, salicylates
- Act by pseudoallergic mechanism, direct mast cell activators
Endogenous
- Infections: Gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary tract infections, Bacterial, protozoal, helminthic, viral (CMV, EBV, HSV)
- Systemic diseases: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Chronic active hepatitis, Malignancies
Avoid triggering factors
Thyroid disease, Atopic disorders, Vitiligo, Pernicious anemia, Rheumatoid arthritis
