According to the symptoms you describe and
their duration, you are probably
experiencing chronic-recedivant urticaria.
All types of urticaria are due to the
liberation of the chemical substance
'histamine' from a type of cell called a
'mastocyte' in the skin. There are 4 types
of urticaria, each with different
mechanisms that can lead to histamine
liberation:
1. Immunological. This type of urticaria
is provoked by an allergen that causes the
creation of specific IgE-antibodies upon
first contact with the body. However,
there is no urticaria present during the
first contact. This type of urticaria is
acquired. During the second contact with
the allergen (and every contact
thereafter), the IgE-antibodies bind the
allergen to the mastocytes’ surface.
This binding with the mastocytes causes
the liberation of histamine and the
appearance of urticaria;
2. Pharmacological. In this type of
urticaria there are no immunological
mechanisms involved. That’s why it is
called a 'pseudo-allergy', or
'idiosyncrasy'. In these cases, an
urticaria can occur during first contact
with an allergen. It is believed that
idiosyncrasies are due to a genetic defect
in the metabolism of particular substances
(inborn allergy). These allergens then
directly stimulate the mastocytes to
liberate histamine. Some medicines like
aspirin can cause this type of urticaria.
3. Physical urticaria. This type of
urticaria is due to a physical factor and
there are several more common types:
urticaria factita (caused by friction);
urticaria pressione (due to a strong,
localized pressure); CHOLINERGIC URTICARIA
(provoked by physical effort, swelling or
emotional excitement); urticaria
frigore/calore (occurs when the body is
exposed to cold or warm), and photogenic
urticaria (caused by sunlight).
4. Idiopathic urticaria. These types of
urticaria have a completely unknown
etiology and they occur during infections,
during various thyroid and
gastrointestinal disorders, and
simultaneously with malignant tumors.
Diagnostic of chronic urticaria includes
several standard procedures to identify
the provoker:
1. Excluding physical provokers with
thermal and mechanic provocative tests;
2. Exposition tests to exclude various
possible allergens;
3. Examination of the feces for Candida
and parasite eggs;
4. Searching for an infective focus
(sinuses, tooth, stomach, intestines).
Therapy includes mainly antihistamines,
while corticosteroids and adrenalin are
used for urgent cases. It is most
important to identify and eliminate the
provoker when treating urticaria.
Continue working with your doctors. Now
that you are more informed, you can
request the diagnostic examinations to
identify the true cause of the hives.
DISCLAIMER:
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