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Paediatrics => Allergy => Hives
Hives
Hives, allergic disorder of the skin, characterized by sudden evanescent or repeated appearance of wheals, irregular, round skin lesions accompanied by inflammation and itching. Hives, technically known as urticaria, commonly appear on covered areas of the skin, but rarely on the palms, soles, or scalp. The disease, often appearing in conjunction with hay fever or asthma, is attributed to an allergic reaction, which occurs rapidly after ingestion, inhalation, injection, or contact with an offending antigen.
Agents responsible for acute urticaria include many foods, such as fish, shellfish, nuts, and berries. Of the wide variety of drugs that may cause it, the most prominent are penicillin, serums, insulin, and biological preparations that contain protein. Insect bites may be responsible. Chronic urticaria is often attributable to materials such as wool, metal, furs, or silk; to focal infections of the teeth, tonsils, or sinuses; to infestations of scabies, lice, bed bugs, and worms; or to allergic reactions to light or extremes of temperature. In many chronic cases emotional stress may be involved.
Itching may be relieved by ointments or lotions such as calamine. Because the antigen-antibody reaction characteristic of acute urticaria is believed to involve release of body histamine, injections of an antihistamine may afford symptomatic relief.
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