Urticaria (Hives)
Urticaria (Hives)
What is Urticaria?
- Also known as hives
- Red, itchy skin rash with a raised, white area in the center
- Often mistaken for blisters, but do not contain fluid
- Usually goes away in 24 hours, but may last several days in some children
What causes Urticaria?
Hives can be an allergic reaction to:
- foods
- medicines
- insect stings
Hives may be triggered by:
- cold or heat
- infections (usually viral)
- other illnesses
What is chronic Urticaria?
- Chronic urticaria is hives that last for more than 6 weeks.
- There is no known cause for most cases of chronic urticaria.
- Some of the known causes of chronic urticaria include:
- antibodies that react with the tissue in the body
- certain kinds of infection
- Your doctor may order blood tests to help determine the cause of the hives.
How is urticaria treated?
- Antihistamines
- Severe cases may require treatment with steroids
- A small number of patients with chronic urticaria may require other
medicines to control their hives
©2009 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center 03/09
