What is the difference between acute and chronic urticaria?
Hives occurring everyday or nearly everyday for six or more weeks is called chronic urticaria. Chronic urticaria is rarely due to food or drug allergy. The most common cause is a mild autoimmune disorder directed against the mast cells. Other causes should be ruled out with appropriate laboratory tests. How is urticaria treated? Long-acting antihistamines are the most useful agents for treating hives. Taking antihistamines prophylactically is always more effective than taking it as needed because preventing the hives from starting is better than trying to make them go away once they’ve appeared. Other supplementary medications include H2 antagonists like Zantac and Pepcid, leukotriene receptor antagonists like Singulair, sympathomimetics like ephedrine and anti-inflammatory agents like prednisone. These medications may be added when antihistamines are insufficient to control hives. Is urticaria curable? When an allergic trigger can be identified hives are curable by avoidance. Chronic
