Idiopathic Urticaria

Idiopathic is a term used to describe a condition which has unknown causes and or triggers.
Hives also known as Urticaria can be attributed to many triggers and is often described as an allergic reaction to a drug or food, and while this may seem to be the case for many, the actual reason for many cases of Urticaria, especially the chronic version may actually be far more complex.

What does Urticaria look like

The symptoms of Urticaria usually appear as either lots of small to medium sized bumps, much like nettle rash (hives), or they can be round, inflamed rings or large patches which often expand into each other, sometimes covering a large area of the body.

Urticaria and Angioedema

Dramatic swelling reactions can occur, such as swelling of the lips, eyes, and ears can suddenly and grotesquely alter the appearance of an allergy victim. Swelling of the lips and tongue may occur immediately after eating a food and may be life-threatening because of airway obstruction.

Cases of dramatic swelling are normally the result of having two conditions, Urticaria and Angioedema, Urticaria and Angiodema form in response to histamine, blood plasma leaks out of small blood vessels in the skin which causes the swelling.

Urticaria and Angioedema can occur at any age and may come and go throughout a lifetime. Angioedema typically causes swelling of the face, head, eye lids, lips, larynx even the lining of the stomach and intestines (causing abdominal pain).