Definition:

Urticaria is an allergic or non-allergic immunological disease, shown on the skin. Characteristically the skin eruptions are erythematous, raised above the skin level, with intense itching.urticaria may appear on any part of the skin.

Causes:

Allergens:

A large number of allergens have been identified as causative agents for some cases of urticaria. It may be noted that urticaria is an individual hypersensitivity and the following factors may not cause urticaria in all urticaria-prone individuals.

Food allergens:

Milk, cheese, egg, protein products, wheat, cereals, certain daals as used in India, peas, orange, fish, chicken, etc. Synthetic and natural food additives and artificially-flavored food articles.

Urticaria and alcohol:

True anaphylactic reactions to alcohol (ethanol) are rare and most reactions to ingested alcoholic beverages are secondary to other chemicals in the beverage such as metabisulfite, papain, dyes or yeasts. However, there are reports of true allergic reactions in which the offending agent was shown to be the ethanol itself. Generally the symptoms of anaphylaxis occur in such patients following the ingestion of beer and/or wine. Urticaria rashes have been reported with ethanol ingestion; and hives on contact with ethanol have also been reported for some patients.

Environmental factors:

Exposure to pollen, house-dust, buffalo dander, fungi, change in temperature, etc. are known exciting factors. Extreme cold, heat, pressure may also induce urticaria.

Drugs:

The major cause for urticaria are man-made drugs such as antibiotics (Penicillin), NSAIDs, anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, indomethacin), vaccinations, foreign sera, hormonal preparations, contraceptive pills, etc. Animals treated with penicillin excrete a small amount of it in the milk sufficient to cause urticaria in sensitive individuals.

Urticaria and cocaine:

There have been reports of morphine-induced hives in some people. Bronchospasm may occur in some patients who smoke cocaine or in those who inject heroin. This may occur more often in patients who have a previous history of asthma. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis to cocaine has also been described and is associated with elevated levels of IgE.

Infections and infestations:

Insect bites, Fungal, protozoal, frequent bacterial infections (Urinary tract), viral infections (Hepatitis), helminthiasis (worm infestations such as round worms, tapeworms), etc. are factors known to cause urticaria. Domestic contact with the pet animals should be examined as cause for urticaria.

Synthetic products:

Use of personal products such as deodorant, perfume, and talcum powder, cosmetic products, animal derivatives, and similar synthetic substances may induce this disorder.

Emotional factors:

Especially in chronic, recurring cases of urticaria the role of emotional factors must be examined. Emotional stresses may directly or indirectly make on susceptible to develop a tendency to urticaria. The psychological factors may work as exciting, aggravating or maintaining cause.

Autoimmune causes:

Chronic urticaria is now understood to have autoimmune link. Presence of auto antibodies against Immunoglobulin E (IgE), CD23 (FcεRII or Fc epsilon RII) which releases histamine, hence leading to chronic urticaria.

Systemic and general disease:

Urticaria in some cases may present as a sign of other systemic or general internal disease such as hormonal disorders (hyperthyroidism), SLE, polycythaemia, reticuloses, etc. In certain variety of malignancies (cancer) urticaria may present as a precursor.

Idiopathic cause:

No list of causation is complete without adding a paragraph of ‘Idiopathic’ which simply implies causes which are unknown.

Classification:

Acute:

Acute urticaria usually show up a few minutes after contact with the allergen, and can last a few hours to several weeks. Food allergic reactions often fit in this category.

Chronic:

Chronic urticaria refers to hives that persists for 6 weeks or more. There are no visual differences between acute and chronic urticaria. Some of the more severe chronic cases have lasted more than 20 years.

Urticaria Features:

The clinical presentation of urticaria is usually acute or acute-on-chronic or recurring. The patient may present with usually sudden, acute skin eruption with swelling, redness, intense itching, burning and anxiety.

The urticaria eruptions may be irregularly shaped or round or may be like a vertical lines.. They may appear single or multiple, occasional or many appearing at once or appearing and disappearing.

The most annoying concern for the sufferer is intense itching which, when uncontrolled makes the patient restless and impatient. At times, the eruptions and itching may lead to disturbance at work and sleeplessness.

Angioneurotic edema (ANO, also called as Giant Urticaria) is a variant of urticaria which simply means large (massive or giant) urticaria with severe swelling (edema) of the skin at a deeper cellular level. When this involves respiratory organs such as larynx, it may lead to suffocation and to a medical emergency. The lips may get terribly swollen with ANO.

Dermatographism :

Urticaria on hands Dermatographism is an uncommon(4%) and an important urticaria variant, whereby if skin is rubbed forcibly as in in writing.

Diagnosis:

Clinical diagnosis is made by close examination of the skin eruptions. Once observed and experienced, the patients can also recognize urticaria.

The exact diagnosis in terms of its causation is made after careful, systematic case-history, by the physician. The patient’s cooperation is required to provide proper information and also by eliminating certain food products once suspected.

A careful case analysis and evaluation is required to make a correct diagnosis. A systematic history to evaluate the whole system ruling out certain systemic disease such as endocrine disorders, malignancy, lupus, respiratory disease, other allergic disorders, etc. is called for. Hormonal study and thyroid profile may be indicated if the clinical picture so suggests. Ruling out an uncommon possibility of malignancy if supported by other clinical finding and factors is indicated at times.

Suggestion about homeopathy Treatment:

The homeopathic treatment for Chronic Urticaria is promising. It is much advanced and more scientific as it is not aimed at relieving the symptoms but treat the disease at immunological level. The treatment plans thus designed is addressed towards correcting the immune system, in turn treating Urticaria from within.

The duration of treatment:

The total length of treatment varies form case to case, depending of the following factors:
• Duration of Urticaria
• Allergic or non-allergic nature
• Extent of spread (Mild, moderate or severe. Cases with frequent attacks of Angioedema are more difficult to treat)
• Current and past medicines (Antihistamines or cortisone)
• General health and associated diseases

One may expect a definite change in about one to three months, in chronic cases. Acute cases generally shows results in hours. The total length of medication for Chronic Urticaria may be anything between four to eight months or longer.

Why homeopathy for Urticaria?

The major benefits of homeopathy could be summarized as under :
• It offers excellent treatment which has a success rate of over 80 to 85%
• It offers immuno-correction hence gives deep-level healing
• It offers long-lasting cure instead of temporary relief.
• It is absolutely harmless, safe and non-toxic.