Can urticaria be contagious?

Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
Updated on October 29, 2024
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Urticaria is not contagious.

Urticaria, also known as wheals or commonly referred to as hives, is caused by temporary increased vascular permeability in the skin and mucous membranes due to allergic factors, resulting in localized edema. Wheals generally subside quite quickly, typically within 24 hours. The causes of wheals, which are essentially urticaria, may include the food we eat, airborne inhalants, and skin contact with substances such as pollen, dust mites, mold mites, as well as animal dander, fur, etc.

Additionally, some cases may be related to infections, and some people may have a lethal factor due to suspicious medications. Moreover, the occurrence of urticaria can also be related to other factors such as cold, heat, ultraviolet light, and mechanical stresses such as friction or pressure. Furthermore, other factors including psychological and endocrine factors can also lead to the occurrence of urticaria.

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Written by Liu Gang
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Characteristics of papular urticaria

Papular urticaria is a type of allergic reaction, generally associated with contact with irritants, or bites from mosquitoes and fleas. The likelihood of occurrence increases if small animals are kept at home. Typically, small red papules or red wheals appear on localized areas of the body or extensively, with a transparent blister on top. The itching is quite severe, and the blisters are prone to bursting when scratched. Once symptoms appear, it is crucial to treat them with proper medication, and care should be taken to prevent infection if the blisters are scratched open. To prevent recurrence, it is advisable not to keep small animals at home, to frequently disinfect clothes, sheets, and duvet covers by exposing them to sunlight to eliminate mites or fleas, and to maintain a standard diet and lifestyle habits.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
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What should not be eaten with hives?

Patients with urticaria have individual differences in their physical constitutions, and not everyone is allergic to the same foods. However, some foods have a higher likelihood of causing allergies, such as seafood, shrimp, crabs, silkworm pupae, beef, lamb, dog meat, various exotic birds and game, fruits like mango, pineapple, durian, and lemon, as well as various food additives. Additionally, spicy and stimulating foods and alcoholic beverages can aggravate allergic reactions and should be avoided as much as possible. Patients who frequently suffer from urticaria may consider undergoing allergen testing to identify which foods trigger allergic reactions. However, the allergen doses used in tests are very small and many factors can affect the results, hence the test outcomes may not fully reflect the actual situation within the patient's body. Moreover, the variety of foods tested is limited, and foods not tested could still potentially trigger urticaria in patients.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
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urticaria symptoms

Acute urticaria manifests as sudden severe itching of the skin, quickly followed by hives of various sizes. In severe cases, symptoms can include palpitations, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, and other signs of anaphylactic shock. Chronic urticaria is characterized by recurrent outbreaks of hives, often lasting for several months or years.

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Symptoms of postpartum urticaria

Postpartum hives are mainly characterized by subjective itching symptoms on the skin. On the surface of the skin, you can see patches of varying sizes with a reddish color, some of which may also feel burning. Generally, this can occur within the first few hours and then quickly subside, but it is prone to recurrent outbreaks. Additionally, some patients may experience gastrointestinal reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and can even cause palpitations and difficulty breathing. When hives are detected, it is advisable to go to the hospital in a timely manner, and ask professional doctors to actively carry out examinations and treatments.

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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.