Hives: An Itchy Mystery
Allergies can cause hives, itchy red splotches on your skin that come and go, but being evaluated for allergies as a cause of chronic hives (urticaria) is almost always a waste of time and money.
We know that allergies to foods and drugs can cause hives, but almost always hives caused by foods or drugs stop by themselves within a few days or weeks. Chronic hives continue to break out for more than a couple of weeks and are evaluated with blood tests, X rays and MRIs. Usually doctors can’t find a cause, but when they do, they find a hidden infection, tumor or an autoimmune disease.
When hives are caused by helicobacter, the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, they can be cured by taking antibiotics. Infectious mononucleosis can 
start as hives that last for several weeks before the actual symptoms of disease start. Exciting new research shows that most people with chronic hives have antibodies against their own white blood cells which can be diagnosed when they have huge red swelling at the site where their blood is injected into their skin and they can be successfully treated with immune suppressants such as cyclosporin and intravenous gamma globulin. Hives caused by touching cold objects are often caused by infection and often stop after a person takes antibiotics.
Doctors usually recommend avoiding aspirin, the most common drug cause of hives. They prescribe antihistamines first. However, sometimes, antihistamines do not control itching and your doctor may have to prescribe cortisone-type medications such as prednisone. Sometimes chronic hives are the first sign of a tumor that may not show up for many years.
Hives (Urticaria)
Hive are itchy, red welts or small bumps that last from 15 minutes to several hours. They usually appear suddenly and leave no trace when they disappear.
Hives Treatment And Hives Cure
Hives can leave you in anguish with your skin igniting into painful, itchy, ugly red welts anywhere on your skin. Any person going through the torment of.
Hives
hives menopause is somet fef hing of a mystery. it can be a single occurrence or can be a chronic condition that can last for over six months.
Mystery hives
If you circle an individual spot, it will move away or disappear on its own—this is a unique feature of hives, and can be very helpful in making the diagnosis.
mystery hives
this is the 2nd/3rd time i’ve broken out in unexplained hives/itchy bumps. the first time was exactly 10 years ago (memorial day weekend).
Author: Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com
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