Acute Urticaria Questions & Answers

Updated: Mar 21, 2018
  • Author: Henry K Wong, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Michael A Kaliner, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is acute urticaria (hives)?

How does acute urticaria (hives) develop?

What are the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in acute urticaria (hives), and what must be done if these features are present?

What is the role of history in the evaluation of acute urticaria (hives)?

How is acute urticaria (hives) diagnosed?

How is acute urticaria (hives) differentiated from other dermatologic conditions?

What is the goal of treatment for acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the pathophysiology of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the duration of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of immune hypersensitivity in the pathophysiology of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is complement-mediated urticaria?

What are the types of physical urticaria?

What is idiopathic urticaria?

How frequently is an etiology for acute urticaria (hives) identified?

What is the role of food allergy in the etiology of acute urticaria (hives)?

Which drugs are most frequently the cause of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is contact urticaria?

What causes papular urticaria?

What are the possible causes of acute urticaria (hives)?

Which drugs cause acute urticaria (hives) by a nonallergic mechanism?

What is the role of histidine in the etiology of acute urticaria (hives)?

What are nonallergenic causes of acute urticaria?

Which infectious diseases cause acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of hormones in the etiology of acute urticaria (hives)?

What does acute urticaria with pruritus indicate?

What are medical causes of recurrent acute urticaria (hives)?

What are physical causes of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the prevalence of acute urticaria (hives)?

How often does acute urticaria (hives) occur simultaneously with angioedema?

What is the duration of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the prognosis of acute urticaria (hives)?

What should patients be told about acute urticaria (hives)?

Presentation

What are the signs and symptoms of acute urticaria (hives)?

How long do urticaria (hives) lesions usually last?

How are urticaria (hives) lesions characterized?

What should be the focus of history for suspected acute urticaria (hives)?

What are the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis with acute urticaria (hives)?

What are the physical findings of angioedema in patients with acute urticaria (hives)?

Which physical findings are characteristic of urticaria?

What the physical findings characteristic of urticarial vasculitis?

What are the physical findings of edema in acute urticaria (hives)?

How is dermographism identified in the evaluation of acute urticaria (hives)?

How are the cutaneous biopsy findings of urticarial lesions (hives) categorized?

DDX

How frequently is the cause of acute urticaria (hives) identified?

Which dermatologic conditions should be included in the differential diagnosis for acute urticaria (hives)?

What causes chronic urticaria?

What are the differential diagnoses for Acute Urticaria?

Workup

How is acute urticaria diagnosed?

What is the urticaria activity score (UAS) and how is it used in the evaluation of (hives)?

What is the role of allergy testing in the evaluation of acute urticaria?

What is the role of physical challenge testing in the evaluation of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of skin biopsy in the evaluation of acute urticaria (hives)?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of acute urticaria (hives)?

Treatment

What can prevent acute urticaria (hives) from worsening?

When is inpatient therapy indicated for the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is included in the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO treatment guidelines for urticaria (hives)?

When should pharmacologic therapies be reevaluated in patients with acute urticaria?

How should penicillin G be administered in children with acute urticaria?

What is the role of antihistamines in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

When are first-generation sedating antihistamines used in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

Which first-generation sedating antihistamines are used in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives), and how should patients taken them be advised?

What is the role of second generation antihistamines in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of H2 antagonists in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of corticosteroids in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

How should oral corticosteroids be administered in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the mechanism of action for corticosteroids in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the therapeutic regimen for corticosteroids as treatment for acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of sympathomimetic agents in the etiology of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of epinephrine in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

Which pharmacologic therapies can be a used to treat severe urticaria (hives)?

What is the efficacy of antileukotriene agents in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of omalizumab in the treatment of urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the role of a food or symptom diary in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

How are urticaria triggers managed?

What are nonspecific triggers of urticaria (hives)?

How can papular urticaria be prevented?

How can a systemic reaction of urticaria be prevented before surgery and during recovery?

How frequently are patients with acute urticaria (hives) seen in the emergency department (ED)?

Which agents are effective in the treatment of acute urticaria?

When is immediate medical intervention required for acute urticaria (hives)?

How might acute urticaria progress?

How is angioedema managed in a patient with acute urticaria?

When are dietary modification indicated in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What activity modifications are needed in the treatment of physical urticaria?

When is consultation with an allergist or dermatologist indicated for the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

What is the benefit of identifying the etiology of the acute urticaria (hives)?

Medications

Which medications are used in the treatment of acute urticaria (hives)?

Which medications in the drug class Monoclonal Antibodies, Anti-asthmatics are used in the treatment of Acute Urticaria?

Which medications in the drug class Tricyclic Antidepressants are used in the treatment of Acute Urticaria?

Which medications in the drug class Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist are used in the treatment of Acute Urticaria?

Which medications in the drug class Sympathomimetic Agents are used in the treatment of Acute Urticaria?

Which medications in the drug class Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of Acute Urticaria?

Which medications in the drug class H2 antagonists (antihistamines) are used in the treatment of Acute Urticaria?

Which medications in the drug class H1 Antagonists (second-generation antihistamines) are used in the treatment of Acute Urticaria?

Which medications in the drug class H1 Antagonists (first-generation antihistamines) are used in the treatment of Acute Urticaria?