Hives and angioedema
Key points
- Hives - also known as urticaria - are raised, red, often itchy welts (wheals) of various sizes that appear and disappear on the skin.
- Some of the medications used to treat respiratory allergy symptoms include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and eyedrops.
- In most cases, hives and angioedema are harmless and leave no lasting marks.
- Acute hives can last from less than a day to up to 6 weeks, whereas chronic hives last more than 6 weeks - sometimes occurring for months to years at a time.
Overview
Hives - also known as urticaria - are raised, red, often itchy welts (wheals) of various sizes that appear and disappear on the skin. Angioedema, a similar swelling, causes large welts deeper in the skin, especially near the eyes and lips. A more serious condition - hereditary angioedema (HAE) - is an uncommon, inherited disorder, which can cause sudden, severe and rapid swelling of the face, arms, legs, hands, feet, genitalia, digestive tract and airway.
About one in five people experience acute hives or angioedema at one time or another. Chronic hives and angioedema are more commonly seen in young adults, although they can occur at any age. HAE affects only about one in 150,000 people.
Allergy Relief
Some of the medications used to treat respiratory allergy symptoms include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and eyedrops.
What do medications do?
Allegra D
Allegra
Claritin-D
Flonase
Nasacort
Nasacort AQ
Nasonex
Patanol
Zyrtec
In most cases, hives and angioedema are harmless and leave no lasting marks. The common treatment is medications. Serious angioedema can be life-threatening if swelling causes your throat or tongue to block your airway and leads to loss of consciousness.
Signs and symptoms
Acute hives can last from less than a day to up to 6 weeks, whereas chronic hives last more than 6 weeks - sometimes occurring for months to years at a time. Often, angioedema and hives occur together.
Signs and symptoms of hives include
- Raised, red, often itchy welts of various sizes that appear and disappear on your skin
- Wheals that commonly occur on areas of the body where clothes rub your skin
- Wheals that tend to occur in batches
Signs and symptoms of angioedema include large welts or swelling of the skin, especially near your eyes and lips but also on your hands and feet and inside your throat.
Signs and symptoms of HAE include
- Sudden and severe swelling of your face, arms, legs, hands, feet, genitalia, digestive tract and airway
- Abdominal cramping as a result of digestive tract swelling
- Difficulty or obstructed breathing due to swelling of your airway
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
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