[Biology Class Notes] on Hives Pdf for EXAM

What is the Hives Meaning? Hives meaning is an outbreak of swollen, red, bumpy rash that appears on the surface of the skin either due to the reaction of the body to an allergen or for unknown reasons. Urticarial Lesions can be extremely itchy and spread across a large area of someone’s body. It can appear on any part of the body like ears, arms, fingers, legs, hands, etc. They are mainly temporary and almost 20% of the world’s population get affected by it in some part or the other of their life. There are many types of urticaria depending on the duration of stay on the body such as acute urticaria, chronic urticaria, dermatographic urticaria, or urticaria caused due to diseases such as thyroid, cancer, etc.

Causes of Hives

Since we have learned to define hives, let us look at the causes of hives. Hives occur when the body reacts to an allergen and releases high levels of histamine and other chemical messengers into the skin. In response to this histamine, blood vessels in the affected area open up and start to leak. The resulting fluid in the tissue causes swelling and itchiness. Some common food products like nuts, eggs, strawberries, wheat products, and food additives also trigger hives. Also, physical stimuli like sun exposure, exercise, water to the skin, latex, and certain medications give rise to hives. Pet dander from dogs, cats, horses, cockroaches, and cockroach wastes, some types of plants like poison oaks and poison ivy also causes this type of disease.

Symptoms of Hives

There is a range of itchy bumps on the skin that are usually red or pink. Rashes appear in several places in the body and can appear from minutes to hours.

 

It is important to find out the history of the hives in the patient’s body. Doctors may carry out an allergy skin test and a blood test to determine the substance to which you are allergic. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms while the condition resolves itself. Antihistamine is usually prescribed by doctors to provide relief from the symptoms. They are taken for several weeks for relief. In some cases, wearing loose clothes and applying cold, damp cloths on the affected area can help.

The Common Triggers of Hives

There are some common triggers of hives in the human body. 

The Common Triggers of Hives Include the Following:

The best remedy is to prevent the triggers of hives. 

Preventing The Triggers of Hives

To prevent the triggers of hives, the following things should be followed.

• Take a bath with anti-itch solutions.

• Avoid products that can irritate the skin.

• Wear lightweight clothes and keep your room temperature low and comfortable.

• You can use aloe vera and witch hazel as natural remedies.

• You can use calamine lotion, Benadryl, Allegra, Zyrtec, etc.

When Should You Visit a Doctor for Hives?

If any of the mentioned symptoms of hives last longer than two days, you should consult a doctor. If you are suffering from dizziness, difficulty breathing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, swelling of lips and tongue, you should visit a doctor as early as possible. The doctor can analyze the exact cause of the symptoms and provide you with the treatment accordingly. Understanding the causes of hives is the key to prevent them in the future.  

Diagnosis of Hives

There is no specific test for detecting hives. The doctor asks for the future medical history of the patient. According to the medical history, some skin tests, blood tests, and allergy tests can be done. Examining all the test reports and the medical history, hives are diagnosed. 

Treatment of Hives

The most effective treatment process for hives is to detect the triggers and remove them. It is not an easy task to do. The doctors prescribe some specific medicines and remedies for removing the triggers. Antihistamines are the best to get relief from hives. If you have severe hives, you may have to take injections of epinephrine also.