Urticaria- Causes, Presentation and Treatment

Last Updated on October 29, 2023

Urticaria or hives is a skin eruption that can be triggered by many substances or situations and usually starts as an itchy patch of skin that turns into swollen red welts. The itching may be mild to severe. Urticaria may cause a burning or stinging sensation.

Such lesions may be restricted to a small area located anywhere on the body or may appear nearly all over the body.

Scratching, alcoholic beverages, exercise, and emotional stress are known to worsen the itching.

Each lesson, however, as a rule, disappears within a few minutes or at the most 24 hours even without any treatment.

The number of lesions depends upon the severity of the attack.

Most cases of acute urticaria are self-limited and last rarely more than several days, but maybe recurrent over weeks.

Chronic urticaria is defined as urticaria with recurrent episodes lasting longer than 6 weeks.

Urticaria is known to affect 15-25% of the population, the incidence being higher in persons with atopy.

Urticaria most commonly occurs in children and young adults.

Some patients can have both urticaria and angioedema,.

[Angioedema, is the rapid swelling of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, mucosa, and submucosal tissues. Urticaria commonly occurs in the upper dermis]

Urticaria can occur as an isolated condition or it can develop as a preceding event to an anaphylactic reaction which if present is a medical emergency and could be life-threatening.

[Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction suggested by hypotension, respiratory distress, stridor, gastrointestinal distress, swallowing problems, joint swelling, joint pain]

Urticaria can occur due to allergic or nonallergic causes. Acute urticaria is mostly allergic whereas chronic urticaria is mostly nonallergic.

Pathophysiology of Urticaria

Urticaria is caused by the release of histamine, an inflammatory mediator. The following substances are also released

Histamine
Bradykinin
Leukotriene C4
Prostaglandin D2
Other vasoactive substances from mast cells and basophils in the dermis.

The release of these substances causes extravasation or leaking of plasma into the dermis, leading to the urticarial lesion.

Itching is caused by histamine released into the dermis.

The release of substances can be due to the allergic or nonallergic reaction. While both work to cause the release of histamine and other substances, the mechanism of the release differs.

Most cases of urticaria are reactions of type I hypersensitivity reaction mediated by IgE antibodies. Sometimes, it is due to type III hypersensitivity mediated by IgG antibodies.

Immune-mediated urticaria or Allergic Pathway

Histamine receptors, the H1 and H2 receptors are present on many cell types.

H1 histamine receptors, on activation on endothelial and smooth muscle cells, lead to increased capillary permeability whereas H2 histamine receptors lead to arteriolar and venule vasodilation.

It can be caused by several mechanisms

Antigen-mediated IgE immune complexes bind and cross-link Fc receptors on the surface of mast cells and basophils, causing degranulation with histamine release. [Type I allergic response]
Cytotoxic T cells cause deposits of immunoglobulins, complement, and fibrin around blood vessels leading to urticarial vasculitis. [Type II allergic response]
Autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus can cause urticaria

Nonimmune-mediated urticaria

Complement-mediated urticaria

Viral and bacterial infections,
Serum sickness
Transfusion reactions.

Reaction with Preexisting antibodies

Urticarial transfusion reactions occur when allergenic substances in the plasma of the donated blood product react with preexisting IgE antibodies in the recipient.

Drugs

Opioids, vecuronium, succinylcholine, vancomycin, and some radiocontrast agents cause urticaria due to mast cell degranulation through a non-IgE-mediated mechanism.

Physical Causes

Physical urticaria, in which some physical stimulus causes urticaria, includes pressure urticaria – immediate and delayed, cold urticaria, and cholinergic urticaria.

Idiopathic urticaria

For some cases of urticaria, especially chronic urticaria, no cause can be found, despite exhaustive efforts.

Certain venoms may cause urticaria.

Radiocontrast media sensitivity is not related to iodine, fish, or shellfish allergy.

Causes of Urticaria

Drugs

Most drugs but especially salicylates, penicillins, sulphonamides, tetracyclines, dextroamphetamine, aspirin, ibuprofen, penicillin, clotrimazole, triazole, anticonvulsants, cefaclor, piracetam, and antidiabetic drugs like glimepiride, can produce urticaria.

In most of these cases, the urticaria is produced by means of an antigen-antibody reaction, but sometimes some drugs like salicylates, polymyxin B, morphine, and curare which can degranulate the mast cells, may produce urticaria by non-allergic mechanisms as well.

Urticaria due to drugs is usually of short duration, occurs at irregular intervals whenever the drug is taken, and usually has long remissions in between.

It disappears soon after the drug is withdrawn, but that due to penicillins and salicylates is likely to persist for a few weeks even after further administration of the drug is stopped.

Foods

Articles of food such as meat, fish, egg, milk, wheat, rice, pulses, nuts, or potato which contain a significant amount of proteins can be responsible for urticaria. The attacks of urticaria in such cases may occur regularly after one or all meals or the frequency of such attacks may vary from several attacks throughout the day to one attack in several days depending upon the frequency with which the causative food is ingested.

Sometimes urticaria may be caused by condiments or other food additives.

Inhalants

A large number of substances such as pollen, fungal spores, fragments of insects, and human and animal dander present in the dust can enter the body through the respiratory tract by means of the air that an individual breathes and be responsible for urticaria.

Active Infection

Some episodes of urticaria are associated with an infection somewhere in the body, which disappear when the infection is treated. In some other cases, the infection may be subclinical but the focus of bacterial infection can from time to time, release bacterial antigens in the circulation and lead to attacks of urticaria.

Such foci may be present at different sites in the body such as tonsils, paranasal sinuses, teeth, bones, kidneys, gall bladder, etc. The attacks can occur at any time of the day and vary in frequency from several attacks in a day to one attack in several days depending upon the frequency with which the antigen is released into the circulation.

There may be no clinical evidence of infection.

The only proof of the bacterial etiology of urticaria in these cases lies in the disappearance of urticaria on treatment with antibiotics or on surgical eradication of the focus of infection.

Gastrointestinal Parasites

Many of the parasites which live in the gastrointestinal tract, pass through the skin and/or lungs during their larval stages and result in urticaria.

Cold

Urticaria due to cold occurs in two forms

Familial
Acquired

Familial cold urticaria is extremely rare, manifests with huge urticarial swellings along with fever and leucocytosis on exposure to cold and occurs in families.

Acquired cold urticaria is similar to urticaria due to other causes.

Winters, cold winds after the rains, cold water drenching, intake of ice-cold food or drink, or even touching or holding cold objects may precipitate the attack.

Heat

Some patients develop urticaria on being exposed to heat from the kitchen fire, ovens, stoves, room heaters, or even from exposure to the sun. The term cholinergic urticaria is used for those cases in which the attacks are precipitated on exposure to heat from sunlight or other sources, physical exertion, and emotional tension.

Solar urticaria is different from heat urticaria. The patient reacts only to sunlight and not to heat from other sources.

Stress [Cholinergic Urticaria]

This is provoked during sweating events such as exercise, bathing, staying in a heated environment, or emotional stress. The hives produced are typically smaller than classic hives and last for short time.

Urticaria can also be precipitated by emotional upsets such as waiting for an interview or an examination or during a bout of anger or depression.

Pressure Urticaria

Prolonged pressure, as from a tight belt, the strap of a brassiere elastic band of the socks, watch strap, sitting, or standing on a hard surface for a long time or other similar objects may lead to urticarial wheals. In such cases, the pressure has to be maintained for several hours and the urticaria occurs only at the area subjected to the pressure and after the pressure has been released.

This type of urticaria can occur right away, precisely after a pressure stimulus or as a deferred response.

Dermographism

Firm stroking of the skin with a blunt object results in the triple response of Lewis in almost every normal individual, but some patients develop urticarial wheals even with light stroking of their skin.

Dermatographic urticaria or as dermatographism or skin writing is marked by the appearance of weals or welts on the skin as a result of scratching or firm stroking of the skin.

The skin reaction usually becomes evident soon after the scratching and disappears within 30 minutes. A dermographism is a common form of chronic hives.

Dermographism is diagnosed by taking a tongue depressor and drawing it over the skin of the arm or back. The hives should develop within a few minutes. Unless the skin is highly sensitive and reacts continually, treatment is not needed.

Solar urticaria

This form of the disease occurs on areas of the skin exposed to the sun, the condition becomes evident within minutes of exposure.

Water-Induced

This type of urticaria is also termed rare and occurs upon contact with water, usually within 1-15 minutes.

It can be diagnosed by dabbing tap water and distilled water to the skin and observing the gradual response.

Insect bites

Papular urticaria is a variation of urticaria caused by insect bites

Vasculitis

Inflammation of the blood vessels, or vasculitis, can also cause hives. These hives are more painful than itchy, may leave a bruise on the skin, and often last more than a day.

Medical Causes

Hormonal causes
- Ovarian pathology
- Oral contraceptive use
- Menstrual cycle
Can be the presenting symptom of lymphoma, and a careful history and review of systems are important.
Cryoglobulinemias (eg, associated with hepatitis C, chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
Serum sickness
Immune complex-mediated inflammation
Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or other rheumatologic diseases
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
Pregnancy

Presentation – Symptoms and Signs of Urticaria

Features of anaphylaxis (eg, hypotension, respiratory distress, stridor, gastrointestinal distress, swallowing problems, joint swelling, joint pain) demand emergency medical care.

Symptoms of urticaria can last anywhere from minutes to weeks. Chronic cases last even longer.

Urticaria presents as wheals which are raised areas surrounded by a red base. They can appear anywhere on the surface of the skin.

Itching and rash are the primary manifestations of urticaria, and permanent hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation is rare.

Lesions commonly last 20 minutes to 3 hours, disappear, and then reappear in other skin areas. Individual lesions fade within 24 hours.

An episode of urticaria often lasts 24-48 and rarely up to 6 weeks.

Painful urticaria, lasting more than 24 hours is likely to urticarial vasculitis. These are palpable and purpuric may lead to residual hyperpigmentation.

Wheals may be pinpoint in size or several inches in diameter. They are raised itchy bumps, either red or skin-colored. On pressing, blanching occurs (the center of a red hive turns white)

The lesions in delayed pressure urticaria can last up to 48 hours.

An assessment of recent exposure and effort to find the same should be done. Sometimes it is straightforward whereas at other times it requires both clinician and patient to find the trigger.

A thorough history, with a detailed history of activities, food, and travel is a must for finding the trigger.

On examination, the lesions should be differentiated from angioedema. Angioedema is swelling tissue beneath the dermis of the skin. It is a serious condition and the following symptoms may indicate angioedema.

Swelling in the eyes or mouth
Swelling of the hands, feet, or throat
Difficulty breathing, stomach cramps, or chemosis (swelling of the lining of the eyes)

Differential Diagnoses

Angioedema
Atopic Dermatitis
Drug Eruptions
Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (Anaphylactoid Purpura)
Contact Dermatitis in children
Serum Sickness
Systemic Mastocytosis
Thrombophlebitis

Staging of Urticaria

It is done on skin biopsy of urticaria lesions, and may be divided into the following categories, as the response to treatment could be different:

Class 1 – A mixture of perivascular dermal inflammatory infiltrates composed of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils, eosinophils, or both
Class 2 – Inflammatory infiltrate chiefly composed of neutrophils
Class 3 – Inflammatory infiltrate mainly composed of eosinophils

Diagnosis of Urticaria

Acute urticaria is generally diagnosed based on detailed patient history and physical examination.

Laboratory and imaging studies are generally not indicated. Screening for streptococcal antigen may be indicated in children.

Skin Tests

Selected allergy tests can be performed if food allergy or stinging insect hypersensitivity is suspected.

Routine allergy testing with a large battery of screening tests is not recommended.

Physical Challenge Tests

The physical urticaria can be confirmed with physical challenge tests. These involve the application of the suspected stimuli

Heat or cold
Pressure
Light
Vibration
Scratching [dermographism]

Skin Biopsy

A diagnostic skin should be considered if lesions do not resolve in patients suspected of having urticarial vasculitis.

Treatment of Urticaria

Prevention

If the cause of hives can be identified, the best treatment is to avoid the trigger or eliminate it:

Foods- Don’t eat trigger foods.
Rubbing or scratching- Avoid harsh soaps
Constant pressure – Avoid tight clothing
Temperature – Avoid the triggering temperature, heat or cold
Sun exposure- Wear protective clothing, use sunscreens

Drugs

H1 Antagonists

Antihistamines are the primary agents used to treat urticaria. Modern second-generation antihistamines are the first choice.

Commonly used second-generation antihistamines are cetirizine, levocetirizine, desloratadine, loratadine, and fexofenadine.

First-generation H1 antagonists can be considered where there is a problem with the use of second-generation drugs.

H2 Antagonists

A combination of an H1 antagonist with an H2 antagonist has been shown to be more effective than an H1 antagonist alone.

Corticosteroids

In some instances of acute or chronic urticaria, antihistamines may fail, even at high doses, or adverse effects may be problematic. In addition, mediators other than histamine may be involved. In such situations, corticosteroids can be highly effective. Steroids may also be used in urticarial vasculitis, which usually does not respond to antihistamines.

Examples of corticosteroid preparations are prednisolone and methylprednisolone.

Because of the adverse effects of chronic or recurrent use of systemic corticosteroids, the long-term use of these agents should be avoided, when possible.

Sympathomimetic agents

Sympathomimetic agents cause vasoconstriction and reduction in vascular dilation, which contributes to urticaria formation.

The efficacy of epinephrine in acute urticaria is controversial. If angioedema is present with urticaria, epinephrine should be administered.

Other Drugs

Cyclosporine, IV gammaglobulin, and plasmapheresis can be considered in severe urticaria that is unresponsive to medications.

Colchicine and dapsone have also been reported to be useful for refractory urticaria and urticarial vasculitis.

Antileukotriene like montelukast and zafirlukast agents can provide a synergistic response when used in conjunction with antihistamines.

Omalizumab (monoclonal antibody to IgE) is a recombinant biologic molecule effective for chronic urticaria.

Immunosuppressants like cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, and mycophenolate are generally reserved as the last line of therapy for severe cases as their use is associated with serious adverse effects.

Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants have been used in the treatment of allergic reactions, especially urticaria.

Prognosis of Urticaria

The prognosis in acute urticaria is excellent. Most of the cases resolve within days.

Chronic urticaria can be difficult to treat as 50-80% of people with chronic urticaria have no identifiable triggers. However, 50% of patients with chronic urticaria will experience remission within 1 year.