You can diagnose urticaria clinically by a close examination of the skin eruptions on the body. Once these skin eruptions are observed and felt, the patients are very well able to recognize urticaria. In order to arrive at a correct diagnosis, it is very important to make a careful analysis and proper evaluation.
Hives, in medical parlance is termed as urticaria. Hives are often referred to as raised and very often itchy type red welts on the skin surface. It can occur on any part of the body like the arms, legs and trunk. Urticaria is therefore a common skin condition that could affect anyone of any age at any time of the year. Generally, except for the palms and soles of the feet, hives can occur on any skin surface. When the swelling goes deep inside the skin due to hives, is termed as angioedema. This could occur in both hands and feet as well as mucuous membranes.
How do you diagnose Hives?
After making a systematic and careful case history by the physician, it is possible to make an exact diagnosis of urticaria in terms of its causation. In order to diagnose properly, the patient’s co-operation is very essential for giving proper information. Certain food products can also be eliminated if they are suspected.
A careful evaluation helps to arrive at a proper diagnosis of urticaria. Moreover, a thorough evaluation of the whole system is done by ruling out certain systemic diseases like malignancy, allergic disorders, respiratory disease, lupus etc. One may also need to have a hormonal study and thyroid profile.
Sometimes, an uncommon possibility of malignancy when supported by clinical findings is ruled out. The clinical history of the individual with a checklist of different causes is carried out. Hives or urticaria is caused by histamine and other compounds that are released from cells known as mast cells.
Histamine causes certain fluid to leak from local blood vessels that further leads to the swelling in the skin. Urticaria is caused due to dilation of capillaries thereby allowing the fluid to leak to the surrounding tissue known as the epidermis. People suffering from allergies like hay fever experience hives as a usual reaction. Allergies from certain foods and medications can also cause hives, but majority of the cases are non-allergic and there is no specific cause ever found in these cases.
Generally just changing soaps, diets, detergents or makeup are not helpful in prevention of hives. This can be quite disappointing to patients. Urticaria is often scratchy, as the swelling in the skin takes place in the epidermis.
