What is the treatment for cold urticaria?
Patients with cold urticaria should learn to protect themselves from a rapid drop in body temperature. Any aquatic activities (e.g. swimming, surfing) should be done under supervision at all times. Regular doses of antihistamines have generally proven to be ineffective, but high doses may be helpful (e.g., four times the usual dose). Some related medications that have been found to be useful include cyrproheptadine, doxepin and ketotifen. Patients that develop anaphylactic reactions should carry emergency adrenaline. There have been reports of successful treatment with leucotriene antagonists, ciclosporin, systemic corticosteroids and oral antibiotics. Cautious induction of cold tolerance by gradually hardening the skin to cold conditions and then exposing the skin to it regularly e.g., by taking regular cold showers.
Patients with cold urticaria should learn to protect themselves from a rapid drop in body temperature. Any aquatic activities (e.g. swimming, surfing) should be done under supervision at all times. Regular doses of antihistamines have generally proven to be ineffective, but high doses may be helpful (e.g., four times the usual dose). Some related medications that have been found to be useful include cyrproheptadine, doxepin and ketotifen. Patients that develop anaphylactic reactions should carry emergency adrenaline. There have been reports of successful treatment with leucotriene antagonists, ciclosporin, systemic corticosteroids , dapsone and oral antibiotics. Cautious induction of cold tolerance by gradually hardening the skin to cold conditions and then exposing the skin to it regularly e.g., by taking regular cold showers.
