Classification
- Acute Spontaneous Urticaria: Spontaneous occurrence of wheals and/or angioedema for a duration of less than 6 weeks.
- Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Spontaneous occurrence of wheals and/or angioedema for a duration of 6 weeks or more. This is also called Chronic Urticaria or Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria.
- Chronic Inducible Urticaria: Occurrence of wheals for a duration of 6 weeks or more, which is inducible by physical factors. Also called Physical Urticaria.
Causes
Urticaria is manifested by exposure to certain triggers, but has no known aetiology until now. Common triggers include:
- Pain medication
- Insects or parasites
- Infection
- Scratching
- Heat or cold exposure
- Sunlight
- Stress
- Exercise
- Alcohol or food
- Pressure on skin as from a tight waistband
Symptoms
Urticaria presents with pruritic or itchy pink-to-red papules and plaques typically with central pallor. These can coalesce and vary in shape and size.
Pressure prone areas like waistline, axilla and groin are most commonly affected but Urticaria can occur on any part. Scratching can result in excoriations, erosions and haemorrhagic crusts.
Associated angioedema occurs in 40% cases and may present with subcutaneous and submucosal oedema affecting non-dependent areas like lips, peri-orbital region, genitals and extremities with discomfort or pain.
Diagnosis
Proper history taking aims at identifying the triggers and exclude the differentials. Routine blood tests may also be required.
Action of Ingredients
- Urtica Urens: Commonly known as stinging nettle, Urtica urens produces stinging or stinging, burning pains. It helps relieve intolerable itching, stinging pains of Hives/Urticaria & symptoms of Angioedema besides fighting ill effects of suppressed Urticaria.
- Nettle rash, worse every year in the same season, and for a suppressed nettle rash. Rheumatism alternates with nettle-rash.
- Apis mellifica: Apis acts on cellular tissue of eyes, face, throat, ovaries, causing oedema of skin and mucus membranes. Allergic oedema of face, eyelids, lips, mouth and throat. Indicated for Bee stings, insect bite, nettle rash. Hives, with burning, stinging and itching. Rosy red, sensitive, sore skin. Large urticaria. Skin dry, hot, alternating with gushes of sweat. Nettle-rash in warm weather, when one can't sweat.
Urticaria or hives affects about 20% of people at some time during their lives. It is a skin reaction which presents with red, raised itchy welts that resolve in a few hours or a day, with itching and swelling. It can affect any part of the body. Acute urticaria is often in response to food, contact with animals or medication. On the other hand, chronic urticaria are rarely allergic and is characterized by presence of the welts for more than 6 weeks and recurs frequently over months or years.
Composition: Urtica urens 3x, Apis mellifica 3x.
Indications: Helps relieve intolerable itching, stinging pains of Hives/Urticaria & symptoms of Angioedema besides fighting ill effects of suppressed Urticaria.
Dosage: Adults: 2 tablets thrice a day.
Children: 1 tablet thrice a day. Or as prescribed by the physician.
Contra-indication: None
Side effects: No known side effects
