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Chronic Urticaria
Difference between acute and chronic urticaria
Acute and chronic urticaria can be distinguished by their symptoms. Acute urticaria has a sudden onset with the rapid appearance of wheals, often accompanied by severe itching, and generally subsides within several days to weeks. If outbreaks occur more than twice a week and persist for more than six weeks, it then progresses to chronic urticaria, which is protracted but with milder symptoms, triggering acute episodes under allergenic factors.
Can acute urticaria turn into chronic urticaria?
Acute urticaria generally heals quickly if treated properly after onset. If the treatment is delayed or improper, and the disease is not completely cured within a month and a half, it automatically enters a chronic phase. Treatment in the chronic phase is more troublesome, requiring long-term medication. Therefore, once this condition is detected, it is crucial to seek formal treatment, avoid spicy and irritating foods, enhance exercise, strengthen immunity, and avoid buying and using medications arbitrarily, as this could complicate treatment if it becomes chronic. For severe cases of acute urticaria, if feasible, patients can also go to the dermatology department of a regular hospital for infusion therapy, which can speed up recovery. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Is urticaria contagious?
Urticaria is not contagious. Urticaria is often associated with multiple factors such as infections, food and drug allergies, insect bites, and also related to genetics, climate, and environment. If urticaria occurs, it is advisable to promptly identify the allergen and avoid further contact with it to prevent the occurrence of urticaria. Urticaria is not infectious, but it is curable and recurrent.
How is urticaria caused?
There are many causes of hives, and the most common is related to genetics. If one of the parents has an allergic constitution, then the likelihood of allergies in their offspring significantly increases. Environmental factors also play a role in the occurrence of hives. For example, environments with a lot of dust or dust mites can trigger allergic reactions. Additionally, a humid living environment can promote the growth of fungi, which can also cause hives. The occurrence of hives is also related to food. Individuals who are allergic to proteins might experience hives when consuming high-protein foods like fish, shrimp, crabs, milk, and eggs. Furthermore, viral infections, bacterial infections, and parasite infections can also trigger hives.
How to treat chronic urticaria?
Chronic urticaria often utilizes antihistamine medications to control symptoms, combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and differential diagnosis and treatment. Treating chronic urticaria generally requires long-term use of antihistamines, sometimes for two or three months, or even up to six months, a year, or more. Typically, treatment involves the combination of two or more types of antihistamines. For cases of chronic urticaria where antihistamines are ineffective, immunosuppressants may be used to adjust the body’s immune state, thus controlling the outbreaks of chronic urticaria. Chronic urticaria is a long-term, slow process that cannot be resolved quickly, so it is important to try to identify the triggering factors of chronic urticaria, or to identify specific allergens. However, finding the allergen is usually challenging because many patients with chronic urticaria have conditions that are also related to their own immune status.
What are the symptoms of an acute outbreak of chronic urticaria?
Chronic urticaria is characterized by skin lesions that repeatedly flare up for more than six weeks, with occurrences at least twice per week, and is known as chronic urticaria. Patients with chronic urticaria generally exhibit mild systemic symptoms. The welts vary in number, frequently reoccur, and can last for months to years. In cases of chronic urticaria, when patients consume certain foods or come into contact with specific allergens, they may suddenly experience symptoms similar to those of acute urticaria; this is referred to as an acute outbreak of chronic urticaria. Patients often experience sudden skin itching, and quickly develop welts of varying sizes that are red, round, oval, or irregular in shape. These welts may be distributed individually or merge into patches. Sometimes the welts turn pale, other times they become erythematous, and gradually disappear. In severe cases, patients may experience palpitations, chest tightness, decreased blood pressure, anaphylactic shock, or gastrointestinal mucosal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If the larynx swells, it can lead to difficulty breathing or even asphyxiation.
Is measles urticaria?
Measles is not urticaria, and there is quite a significant difference between them. Measles is a skin disease caused by a viral infection and is contagious, with the virus being the measles virus. In contrast, urticaria is an allergic condition that can be triggered by many different causes, varying widely depending on what different individuals are allergic to. Furthermore, the treatment for measles typically involves antiviral and symptomatic approaches, whereas the treatment for urticaria generally entails the use of anti-allergy methods.
How can chronic urticaria be treated to be completely cured?
Chronic urticaria is relatively difficult to cure completely. It can be managed effectively through standardized medication and lifestyle adjustments to reduce the frequency of outbreaks. Chronic urticaria is usually related to a decrease in the body's immunity; certain allergens can also trigger it. Therefore, treatment of chronic urticaria should include medications that enhance immune function combined with antihistamines. Commonly used thymopeptides can strengthen immunity, and antihistamines such as chlorcyclizine hydrochloride tablets, olopatadine hydrochloride tablets, or loratadine tablets may be chosen. It is also important to avoid inhaling, touching, or ingesting substances that trigger urticaria. Additionally, avoiding staying up late, maintaining a regular schedule, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, and engaging in appropriate exercise to enhance the body's immunity are recommended.