Urticaria (Hives)
Urticaria is a dermatosis characterized by the presence of hives, localized or scattered throughout the body. It can also invade other parts of the body, such as the digestive system, the respiratory system, the vagina, and so on.
Agents that cause hives:
- Substances of plant or animal nature
- Mechanical or physical (hot or cold, light pressure)
-Food or medicines.
The mechanisms that lead to the formation of hives and dell’edema are determined by the antigen and antibody, which give rise to two chemical compounds: histamine (or substance istaminosimile) and the serotina. These substances act in subcutaneous tissue, causing an expansion of the fabric. The permeability of blood vessels is altered, causing the leakage of serum that generates the hives and edema.
Physiopathology
The release of histamine from mastcellule (and / or other hormones tissue) induces an enlargement of venules postcapiillari and an increase of ductility capillare causando edemi (flittene) e prurito. capillary causing edema (flittene) and itching.
L ‘activation of mastcellule may be caused by:
- Physical mechanisms: water, pressure, cold, heat, light
-Allergic mechanisms: type of allergic anaphylactic reaction mediated by IgE on several different substances (often “natural”, but also synthetic)
- Phenomena of intolerance: acetylsalicylate and other medicines, dyes, preservatives
In the event of widespread and strong urticaria may occur an anaphylactic shock. First and first aid: Adrenalina!
Therapy
- Identify and avoid the cause
- Symptomatically: antiistaminici (inhibitors of the H1 histamine receptors), ev. glucocorticoidi glucocorticoids
Popular therapies
The popular treatments are similar to those in use per altre allergie (dermiche, mucotiche, for other allergies (dermal, mucotiche, intestinal), enhanced with the addition of incense as powerful antiedematico. If the cause is not allergic, you can also groped a desensitization. In cases of iperistaminosi is also used in therapeutic doses, methionine and vit. B6 . B6.
- Identify and avoid the cause. Feasible only by the patient himself in collaboration with an expert.