home Audience 4 Chronic recurrent urticaria effective treatment methods. Chronic recurrent urticaria. Why does the disease occur?

Chronic recurrent urticaria effective treatment methods. Chronic recurrent urticaria. Why does the disease occur?

Peculiar red rashes on the skin that cause itching, similar to burns from nettle leaves - this is urticaria. It is divided according to the form of manifestation and course into two types: acute and chronic urticaria.

Manifestations of urticaria are similar to nettle burns

Let's talk about the chronic form. If the rash and the accompanying sensations do not go away for a long period of time, from four to six weeks, this is a chronic form.

What caused

Factors that provoke urticaria are divided into several groups:

endogenous - everything that is associated with pathological or inflammatory processes in organs;
exogenous - everything that is associated with external factors.

It is the inflammatory processes in the organs and their systems that cause the protracted nature of the disease.

How does it manifest? Blisters have different shapes and sizes. With this form, the rash appears again and again, each time it can change location. Usually affects: torso, face, limbs, palms, plantar area.

The rash may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, dizziness, and general weakness.

Recurrent urticaria

This type of urticaria is characterized by a wave-like course. This is due to the fact that the body becomes sensitized to the allergen over a long period of time. There are periods of exacerbation and calm. One of the main features of this disease is the sudden elimination of symptoms at the acute stage. The dermis quickly become the same as they were originally and take on the appearance as if there was nothing on them.

If there is no timely prescription of appropriate treatment, then the disease qualifies over time as chronic recurrent urticaria. This form very often becomes progressive. Then consequences such as:

lupus;
arthritis;
diabetes;
gluten intolerance;
Sjögren's syndrome.

At the first signs, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe adequate treatment.

Sjögren's syndrome is one of the consequences of chronic urticaria

Principles of treatment of chronic urticaria

The most common cases of urticaria are when the causes are not determined, then the diagnosis is idiopathic urticaria. This type is characterized by a long course of over six months. The blisters are clearly demarcated. Accompanied by swelling, general weakness of the body, fever, and nervous disorders. Severe manifestations can lead to loss of ability to work. Treatment of chronic urticaria is a labor-intensive process, but is it possible to achieve results without effort?

The first thing the attending physician begins is to collect an anamnesis. Frequency and circumstances play a very important role. Heredity plays a big role. Even if relatives through a generation suffered from allergic diseases, this puts the person at risk. Then a number of tests are performed. Indicators in analyzes can reveal the causes of the disease.
Then screenings for chronic diseases are carried out.
Afterwards, food tests are done, which can allow you to choose the optimal diet for the patient.

Urticaria is treated mainly with diets, because it is difficult to treat with medication. With the help of a properly selected diet, you can free the body of accumulated toxins and, as a result, get a long period of remission. There are two types of diets: elimination and challenge.

The first is based on the gradual elimination of allergens from the diet and monitoring the body's reaction. The second, on the contrary, is based on the gradual introduction of allergens into the diet.

First of all, the doctor will collect anamnesis

What other actions can be taken to treat chronic urticaria?

During the treatment process, the patient may be referred to an ENT specialist and a neurologist.
Antihistamines are initially prescribed.
In severe cases, hormonal agents and immunomodulators are prescribed.
To reduce itching, medications for external use are prescribed - these are ointments and creams.
Enterosorbents have a positive effect, and probiotics can improve the condition of the intestines, especially when the body’s reaction occurred in connection with taking antibiotics.
Physiotherapy can be of considerable benefit in the treatment of this disease: PUVA, electrophoresis, ultrasound, irradiation, subaqueous baths. All this can only be used in combination. If you use one remedy, there will be no result.

Herbal treatment is often prescribed in combination if there is no allergy to them. In folk medicine, there are many remedies that perfectly help get rid of swelling, itching and flaking.

We will consider folk remedies that have already managed to show positive results in the fight against such an unpleasant disease below.

Baths with herbal decoctions perfectly relieve nervous tension and have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin. Most often, decoctions are used: chamomile, oak bark, celandine, string, St. John's wort, sage.
Nettle. An excellent tool. It is taken orally in the form of tea, and lotions are made from the infusion.
Elecampane. Its decoction is made as follows: add a tablespoon of raw material, a glass of water, and simmer for ten minutes over low heat. Take one third of a glass twice a day before meals.
Yarrow. Drink 30-40 drops of the infusion at night, before going to bed.
Celery is used in various variations. Drink freshly squeezed juice or make compresses with it. Squeezed leaves are also used in the form of compresses.
The most unique remedy is aloe. It can also be used orally, and the leaves themselves can be applied directly to the affected areas. Aloe is a plant that is suitable for treating any disease. Blood cleansing procedures are also used with its juice.

Aloe leaves can be used internally and externally

Blood purification

In cases where long-term treatment does not produce effects, a transfusion and blood purification may be prescribed. The blood is passed through a special device that clears it of histamines. They also give injections with aloe juice and the patient’s blood. It happens like this:

blood is taken from a vein;
mixed with aloe (a special solution is sold at the pharmacy);
every day the dose of the drug in the proportion increases, and the plasma decreases;
As a result, the injection is purely a drug: the course is complete, and several such courses can cure many diseases.

You can drink decoctions from wheatgrass root. It also purifies the blood.

What is spontaneous urticaria? Among the manifestations and forms of urticaria, there is spontaneous urticaria. Its resolution occurs on its own when the irritating factor is eliminated.

But this does not mean that you do not need to undergo diagnostics. In this case, you can get by with preventive measures that will be aimed at preventing relapses in the future.

Why does chronic urticaria develop into recurrent urticaria?

In most cases, chronic urticaria becomes recurrent due to autoimmune processes in the body. What does this mean? In simple terms, the immune system, instead of directing all its forces to protect the body, on the contrary, directs them to its own cells. In fact, the human body is engaged in self-destruction. Sometimes such processes lead to irreversible changes in the functioning of organ systems.

When the body begins to fall asleep, this is precisely the result of this process. To attack one's own cells, autoantibodies are released and attach to the walls of subcutaneous cells, thereby releasing histamines and other chemicals.

Why this happens has not yet been studied. But, every year, scientists manage to learn more and more about the processes occurring in the human body and explore more factors that can provoke this or that reaction.

Everyone should know how to treat. Unlike other forms, recurrent ones must undergo long-term and complex treatment. It is aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms and the allergen, but it is also necessary to select a course of drugs that will not irritate the viruses that have already settled in the body. Antihistamines are an integral part of treatment. The next step is drugs that have a sedative effect. Corticosteroids are used in the most extreme cases.

The human immune system begins to attack its own cells, leading to hives

What hives in the chronic stage can hide behind?

In most cases, the diagnosis is idiopathic chronic urticaria, the causes of which cannot be determined. The true reasons lie very deep, so a complete examination of the body and all its systems is necessary.

This disease can be the cause of diseases such as lupus, lymphogranulomatosis, rheumatoid arthritis, malignant tumors, bladder infections, gallbladder infections, caries.

This disease is becoming common in people with alcohol intoxication and being under the influence of narcotic substances. Often, severe stress and fatigue lead to premature wear and tear of the body, as well as to pathological irreversible processes in the body. For example, sleep disturbance as a result of a nervous breakdown has very serious consequences.

Another danger posed by this disease may be secondary infection. Often the disease causes such severe itching that it cannot be tolerated.

As a result of scratching, a wound appears that becomes infected. Subsequently, the skin begins to become wet, the affected areas fester, and infection can spread to the blood.

Bladder infection is one of the complications of hives

How to learn to prevent relapses

Hives will not go away on their own, and relapses will occur again and again if you do not find out how to treat them. Preventive measures:

transition to a healthy lifestyle;
it is advisable to make proper nutrition not just a diet during an exacerbation, but a way of life, so that the body gets used to this particular diet;
full examination and treatment of internal organs and systems;
cosmetics should only be hypoallergenic - this applies to soaps, shower gels, shaving creams, etc.;
if possible, you should limit contact with the allergen that causes such a violent reaction as much as possible;
It is not advisable to use household chemicals for cleaning;
it is necessary to frequently carry out wet cleaning in the house;
strengthen immunity;
the gastrointestinal tract should work like a clock: an important point is the prevention of its diseases - if you follow the diet constantly, problems should not arise;
Naturally, you will have to exclude alcoholic beverages and tobacco products from your diet.

The use of household chemicals should be minimized

Can chronic urticaria be cured?

Many people who have encountered this problem in practice are interested in this issue. Recurrent urticaria is a very dangerous disease; it cannot be cured. However, it is possible to reduce the frequency of relapses using preventive measures. With individual selection, herbal infusions can also help with this. This disease is characterized by a high risk of developing Quincke's edema.

If a patient diagnosed with urticaria begins to breathe heavily, urgent medical intervention is necessary. There is no need to postpone treatment and visits to the doctor; the processes of treating the disease should become part of the life process.

Conclusions and forecasts

The prognosis for chronic urticaria is not very encouraging, because it cannot be cured. You can only heal, stop the symptoms and maintain a state of remission until a certain point. Everything we know about urticaria gives us every right to say that the chronic form of the disease is a consequence. The body can produce such a reaction only as a result of prolonged contact with an irritating factor. Equally important in the prevention of such diseases is the timely treatment of any disease, especially of an infectious nature. For example, caries, which can also start an irreversible process. Many people wait until the last minute before going to the dentist. The entire human body is a single chain of processes that are closely interconnected. If one organ suffers, another begins to suffer.

In order not to rack your brains over how to be treated later, you need to think ahead and take measures to prevent a simple disease that can be successfully treated in the early stages from developing into such a stage. If you notice the first signs, contact the following specialists:

allergist;
immunologist;
gastroenterologist;
neurologist.

One type of allergic reaction is urticaria. According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the planet has at least once encountered this pathology. Most often, urticaria is not an independent disease, but a symptom of other autoimmune diseases. In this case, the disease becomes chronic.

cold (Duncan test);
thermal (water compress);
provocation by pressure, tension (test with a spatula, tourniquet).

They also test for food and household allergens, reactions to plants and animal hair.

Reactions to food allergens are detected using two types of diets:

Elimination. It consists of gradually eliminating foods that are believed to have caused the allergy from the diet. The patient keeps a food diary, recording his reaction to withdrawal.
Provocative. In this case, on the contrary, the amount of allergenic foods in the diet is increased.

With the help of diets, it is possible to identify the allergen only in 50% of cases. The remaining cases are considered idiopathic.

Treatment

Treatment of chronic disease begins with eliminating the allergen. Basic principles of treating urticaria:

elimination of the provoking factor;
alleviation of the patient's condition with the help of;
drawing up a treatment algorithm;
therapy for the disease that caused it;
prevention of relapses.

The drugs used for treatment are given in the table:

Types of drugs	Name	Action
Antihistamines	Claritin, Zodak, Tavegil	They block histamine receptors, preventing its harmful effects.
Corticosteroids	Prednisolone, hydrocortisone	They relieve inflammation, stabilize cell membranes, preventing the release of allergy mediators.
Sorbents	Activated carbon, Lactofiltrum	Absorb and remove toxic substances from the body.
Enzymes	Linex, Creon, Pancreatin	Improve digestion, increase metabolism.
Local agents	Ointment Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, Fenistil, Advantan	Relieve inflammation, reduce skin itching
Sedatives	Motherwort forte, Adonis bromine, Persen	Relieves nervous tension, improves sleep

Diet

Diet for chronic urticaria is an effective method of therapy. Excluding highly allergenic foods from the diet leads to a reduction in the symptoms of the disease and the achievement of a long period of remission.

If you have nettle fever, you should not eat the following foods:

sweets (chocolate, honey, candy, soda);
nuts;
sausages;
canned foods;
chicken eggs;
red vegetables and fruits (tomatoes, apricots, citrus fruits, peaches, persimmons, grapes); berries (strawberries, raspberries);
smoked meat, lard, fish;
mayonnaise, ketchup and other store-bought sauces;
sweet yoghurts, whole milk;
white bread, baked goods;
chips, crackers and other products with a lot of preservatives;
alcohol.

Authorized products:

lean meat (chicken, rabbit, turkey);
fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk, unsweetened yogurt);
cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, pearl barley);
whole grain bread;
hypoallergenic baked goods;
green vegetables and fruits (cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, cabbage);
fresh herbs;
boiled potatoes;
vegetable and butter;
rosehip decoction, dried fruit compote without sugar.

The method of cooking is also important. It is preferable to cook by steaming or by stewing and baking. Fried foods are best avoided.

ethnoscience

Some folk remedies have been successfully used to treat chronic urticaria. Herbal decoctions can be used internally, in the form of lotions and baths. The following herbs are usually used: string, coltsfoot, plantain. They have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects.

A decoction of bay leaves is drunk and applied to the affected areas. It relieves itching and inflammation well.
Drink celery juice before meals. It removes toxins well, improves digestion, and improves immunity.
Alcohol infusion of nettle and yarrow. Take 30 drops before meals. The product strengthens the immune system and reduces inflammation.
Lotions are made from a decoction of celandine. You can take a bath, but make sure that the water does not get into your mouth.

Before using folk remedies, you should consult your doctor.

Chronic urticaria and the army

Chronic urticaria is a disease that threatens the patient's life. It falls under the category of skin diseases. According to the Law on Military Service, a conscript with skin diseases (Article 62) is considered partially fit for military service.

He is given a military ID with category B, the young man is transferred to the reserve.

Prevention and prognosis

Chronic urticaria, unfortunately, cannot be completely cured. If all medical prescriptions are followed, long-term remission can be achieved. However, contact with an allergen can cause a relapse at any time.

In order to avoid relapse, the patient must observe the following preventive measures:

Stick to a hypoallergenic diet.
Avoid contact with allergens.
Use cosmetics and household chemicals with natural ingredients.
Treat all infectious diseases in a timely manner.
Strengthen the immune system through hardening procedures and physical exercise.
During epidemics of influenza and ARVI, do not visit public places.
Avoid prolonged stress.
To refuse from bad habits.

Chronic urticaria is an incurable disease. To prevent allergies from becoming chronic, you need to seek medical help at the first signs of illness. Timely identification of the allergen and adequate treatment guarantee recovery.

If the skin or body is exposed to an irritating substance, rashes may occur. Red blisters indicate the development of urticaria. It is important to promptly eliminate negative effects and begin proper treatment.

If no attempts are made, the symptoms may intensify, and the person develops recurrent, chronic urticaria. It will be problematic to cure it due to the constant manifestation of signs on the surface of the skin.

Features of the disease

Hives are characterized by the spread of blisters on the surface of the skin. Sometimes it appears as a normal rash that can be mistaken for a simple allergic reaction.

Sometimes the formations cover large areas and are clearly expressed. They become like a nettle burn. The mechanism of their appearance lies in the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous layer, which begins to emerge from small vessels.

When the disease lasts up to six weeks, the acute stage is determined. If treatment is absent or does not produce a positive result, chronic recurrent urticaria may appear. It is a more serious form of violation.

The stages of exacerbation differ in obvious symptoms

The pathology is difficult to treat. This is due to the fact that periodic bursts of exacerbations may occur over several years. Most often, this form of urticaria occurs in children and women.

Main provoking factors

The causes of chronic urticaria cannot be determined in all cases. After all, it can be caused by hereditary predisposition, chronic pathologies of organs and systems, and the influence of allergens.

These factors in most cases lead to the disease becoming chronic. Relapses can also occur when:

disturbances in the functioning of the body's immune defense;
pathological changes in the organs of the endocrine and digestive systems, as well as the liver and kidneys;
penetration of helminths, bacteria and viruses into the body;
autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus);
exposure to food irritants and the development of sensitization of the body;
taking various medications;
the influence of household allergens, physical environmental factors;
the presence of malignant tumors in the body.

Determining the causes of recurrent urticaria and reappearance of rashes is not easy. Therefore, it is important to conduct a complete diagnosis to prescribe adequate treatment.

Symptoms

It is not difficult to determine the onset of the disease. A rash forms on the skin of adults and children. It appears as red blisters, reminiscent of a nettle burn.

The location of the rash may vary. Sometimes it forms in separate areas. But it is also possible for the rash to spread throughout the body.

The appearance of the blisters also changes. They can be represented by small pimples or large elements with watery contents.

In the affected area, the skin turns red and swells. Irritation of the integument is also noted. Most often, rashes can be found in the chest, back, upper and lower extremities.

After the formations appear, itching begins. Repeated manifestations are characterized by less intensity. Therefore, the chronic form differs in this from the acute stage.

Rashes in children and adults can spread over the entire surface of the skin

The recurrent form has a wave-like course. This occurs due to the fact that the body gradually becomes sensitized to the irritant. Periods of remission, during which there are no symptoms, are followed by periods of exacerbation.

In the acute stage, symptoms may resolve on their own. A person may think that he has been cured of a disease.

In childhood, other symptoms may additionally appear. The child may feel:

severe itching;
hoarseness of voice;
abdominal pain;
increased body temperature;
dry cough.

Relapses appear periodically. Most often, about three months pass between the stages of exacerbation.

What complications can there be?

If treatment of the acute stage was not started in a timely manner, then we can talk about the development of a chronic form. The latter can cause various complications. One of the serious consequences is anaphylactic shock.

This reaction leads to disruption of cardiac activity and respiratory abilities. When the bronchi narrow, there is difficulty in the passage of oxygen and a decrease in blood pressure.

It is necessary to visit a doctor in a timely manner to prevent complications from developing.

A recurrent form can suddenly become progressive. Then the immune system is undermined, which can provoke the appearance of one of the diseases:

To prevent this, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible when the first signs appear.

Treatment

Before starting treatment for recurrent urticaria, it is necessary to conduct a complete diagnosis. It allows you not only to confirm the diagnosis, but also to find out the causes of the rash.

The doctor will select diagnostic methods in accordance with the assumptions of various pathologies. A blood test and skin tests are required to determine the allergen.

To eliminate the source of the rash, special therapy will be required. Contact with the irritant is preliminarily excluded. For example, if you are allergic to household dust, frequent wet cleaning is needed. It uses vacuum cleaners with water filters. If a reaction occurs to plant pollen, it is important to avoid long walks when they are blooming.

Food allergies require keeping a food diary. It must include information about all the products that the person consumed. An elimination diet is also carried out.

Taking medications

If an irritant enters the body, antihistamine therapy is required. It is aimed at blocking the production of histamine and accelerating the process of eliminating symptoms.

Medications help quickly cope with the symptoms of the disease

Recently, treatment has been carried out using:

Zyrteca;
Loratadine;
Zodak;
Erius;
Telfasta.

If there are no results, corticosteroid therapy Prednisolone, Dexamethasone may be prescribed. They help manage symptoms and prevent the occurrence of angioedema.

In case of emotional stress, sedatives may be required. Among them, Atarax and Donormil are considered effective. They relieve itching and restore sleep.

Physiotherapy is performed to restore the condition of the skin.

If urticaria is provoked by food irritants, then enterosorbents are taken. Of the drugs in this group, the doctor may prescribe Polysorb, Filtrum, Enterosgel.

Local therapy is also carried out aimed at restoring the condition of the skin. In most cases, non-hormonal agents Depanthenol, Psilo-balm, Bepanten, Radevit, Fenistil-gel are used. The skin can be lubricated with preparations containing menthol oil.

Physiotherapy

For chronic urticaria, physiotherapeutic procedures are often prescribed. They help restore the condition of the skin. Effective for this disease are:

taking baths and showers for therapeutic purposes;
irradiation with ultraviolet rays;
wraps;
exposure to currents of different directions.

It is important to carry out complex therapy to achieve a positive result. Attention is also paid to the diet, from which highly allergenic foods are excluded.

Urticaria is a skin disease associated with the appearance of an allergic rash. In shape and size, it resembles the blisters that appear after being struck by nettles, hence the name. In the acute form, rashes appear literally in the first minutes after interaction with the provoking factor; they pass quickly - within a few hours. If the effect of the allergen is not eliminated, a recurrent form of the disease occurs. A single episode does not require treatment, but chronic urticaria will not go away without treatment. If you experience symptoms of hives, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Mechanism of disease development

Urticaria differs from other dermatological and allergic diseases in the presence of a clear and understandable relationship between exposure to an allergen and the appearance of rashes. Most often, patients can independently name the provoking agent - symptoms appear a few minutes after contact with the provoking agent. If the causes of urticaria are unknown, then first of all it is recommended to pay attention to contact with animals and diet.

An immediate allergic reaction develops as follows: an allergen enters the body, mast cells are immediately sent to it - they cause the release of immunoglobulin E. When a mast cell is in conditions of increased immunoglobulin content, it produces histamines - substances that increase vascular permeability and cause swelling . This is a protective mechanism that allows the body to block part of the allergen, and remove part as quickly as possible.

The provoking factor may not be a substance, but a physical effect - heat or cold, stress. Allergies can also be caused by the presence of a source of infection in the human body.

In clinical diagnosis, acute and chronic forms of urticaria differ in duration - if episodes of urticaria are present for 6 weeks and are interspersed with periods of remission, then a diagnosis of chronic urticaria is made.

Causes of development and forms of urticaria

For the development of acute urticaria, short-term contact with the allergen is sufficient. The chronic form is characterized by frequent relapses and is associated with prolonged proximity to the substance causing the pathological reaction. Therefore, at the first manifestations of an allergy, it makes sense to conduct special tests, find out what exactly caused the rash, and exclude any contact with this substance.

In the chronic form, the rash and inflammation are less pronounced. After an exacerbation, the symptoms disappear for a while. Recurrent urticaria may be associated with the presence of a source of infection in the body and requires consultation with a specialist.

Symptoms of urticaria

The disease has specific manifestations, so there are usually no problems with making a diagnosis.

Specific symptoms of allergic urticaria:

Skin rashes resembling blisters from contact with nettles.
When pressed, the blisters are white and lose color.
Itching that leads to scratching.
The skin at the site of the lesion is swollen and red.
The rash can appear on any part of the body in its acute form; sometimes urticaria even affects the mucous membranes.
In chronic pathology, the rash often appears on the bends of the arms and legs.

With direct contact with the allergen, rashes appear quickly, within a few minutes, and disappear without a trace in a maximum of 2 days. The rash subsides within 3-6 hours.

If complications develop, skin symptoms may be accompanied by swelling of the larynx, fever, weakness, headache, nausea, and difficulty breathing.

If life-threatening complications occur, you must take any antihistamine and call a doctor. If allergy symptoms only include hives, then emergency care is not required. In this case, it is worth making an appointment with an allergist to establish a diagnosis and avoid chronicity of the disease.

Diagnosis of urticaria

Diagnosis begins with an examination by a medical specialist and most often ends at the stage of collecting an anamnesis. Typical urticaria is associated with the presence of a specific allergen. Most patients had atopic reactions in childhood. Visual assessment of the skin helps to make a final diagnosis - urticaria can be easily distinguished from other skin diseases.

If the allergen is known, then the main recommendation is to avoid, if possible, contact with the substance that provokes hives. This is why accurate diagnosis is important - it is necessary to understand which group of chemical compounds can lead to the development of urticaria. It often happens that the same substance is found in different foods or in different pharmaceuticals. And an allergy to pets can affect only one breed or spread to almost all pets, from cats to hamsters.

Therapy is needed if the disease has become recurrent - this happens if it is impossible to stop contact with the provocateur. In a situation where test results show the presence of an infectious focus, it is necessary to determine the infectious disease. It is likely that the urticaria will go away after healing.

If a patient is diagnosed with an allergy to dust, food or plants, then lifestyle changes are required: frequent wet cleaning, following a proper diet and avoiding walking during the flowering period of plants. Concomitant treatment is designed to alleviate symptoms when they reappear.

Drug therapy

Treatment consists of taking antihistamines. Thanks to the development of medicine, the latest generation of drugs have appeared that do not cause drowsiness and do not affect the performance of complex work, concentration and the ability to operate machinery and vehicles. Despite the fact that the independent choice of patients often stops at suprastin, there are more modern means that the attending physician will help you choose.

Treatment is not limited to taking antihistamines. Over a long period of time, they may be ineffective. In this case, drugs from the group of corticosteroids are prescribed. These are more serious medications and can only be taken as directed and under the supervision of a specialist.

In addition to the main treatment, you may need to take other groups of drugs:

Sedatives - if urticaria is associated with stress.
Enterosorbents - if the allergy is triggered by a recent meal.
Local remedies (ointments, gels, lotions) that help fight itching.
There are medications that can prevent severe consequences when angioedema develops.

The use of local remedies can relieve unpleasant symptoms. As a rule, non-hormonal drugs are prescribed that have a calming and wound-healing effect and relieve swelling. The doctor selects medications individually, depending on the course of the disease and the characteristics of the development of allergies in a particular patient.

Physiotherapeutic methods include:

Therapeutic water procedures - for dermatological problems are used only after the appointment of the attending physician.
Sanatorium-resort holiday. It is especially effective, as it allows not only to normalize the emotional state, but also assumes the absence of contact with the allergen.
Therapeutic exercise.

In the chronic form, it is important to carry out comprehensive treatment, and it should begin with identifying the allergen and making a clear diagnosis. Modern medicine makes it possible to select effective remedies that can get rid of hives, regardless of what caused it.

You can undergo a full diagnosis and begin treatment at the CELT multifunctional clinic. If you are familiar with this problem, you can consult an allergist.

is an allergic skin reaction that manifests itself in the form of an itchy, inflamed rash.

Urticaria becomes chronic when its duration exceeds 6 weeks.

Recurrent - if it is accompanied by long periods of remission.

What is chronic idiopathic urticaria? This is a disease whose causes remain unknown.

Chronic urticaria ( ICD10 code – L50.1 Idiopathic, L50.8 Chronic) is widespread.

Symptoms and manifestations

Signs of chronic urticaria persist on the skin for more than 6 weeks (as opposed to the acute form, which lasts less than 6 weeks).

Characteristic symptoms chronic (recurrent) urticaria include:

Rash in the form of red (or pale pink) blisters, usually on the face, back, abdomen, arms or legs, décolleté or neck. The rash can be localized (up to 10 cm), or can spread to large areas of the body (generalized urticaria).
Appearance of scars, which vary in size, change shape, disappear, and then reappear.
The appearance of papules and plaques with a white center surrounded by red, inflamed skin (chronic papular urticaria).
Itching(less severe than in the acute form of urticaria), worsening at night, causing insomnia, neurotic disorders.
Edema, causing pain and burning (angioneurotic, Quincke's edema), especially in the throat and around the eyes, on the cheeks, lips, rarely on the arms, legs and, very rarely, on the genitals. At the site of swelling, skin tension is often observed, it begins to peel off, and cracks appear.

Attention! Rash and inflammation are often accompanied general malaise, weakness, nausea, fatigue, arthralgia (joint pain), less commonly: diarrhea and fever.

Signs and symptoms of chronic urticaria tend to flare up when exposed to triggers such as heat/cold, sunlight, exercise, stress.

Symptoms quiet down for long periods time (1-6 months), and then come back. The duration of chronic recurrent urticaria is not limited by time. It can last throughout the patient's life.

Causes

Chronic (recurrent) idiopathic urticaria is the most common type of the disease.

If recurrent urticaria appears on the skin, the causes are: body reaction to allergen, against which the body produces a protein called histamine.

When histamine is released from cells (called mast cells), fluid begins to leak through the capillaries, which accumulates in the skin and causes hives.

Mechanism chronic (idiopathic) urticaria autoimmune, Patients with this form of the disease have special IgG antibodies(most likely due to an autoimmune disease accompanying urticaria), which activate and awaken even those sleeping mast cells in the skin, causing them to attack healthy cells in the body, causing an increased allergic reaction.

Chronic urticaria, causes accompanying disease: thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (the body's immune system attacks the joints), Sjögren's syndrome (damage to the lacrimal/salivary glands), rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease (digestive disorder) and diabetes.

Reference! Disease affects men and women equally, more often she manifests itself in adolescent children during puberty.

Climax and chronic urticaria are closely related, since the former causes the development of the latter.

Chronic urticaria is often the result other chronic disease and infection:

Chronic (recurrent idiopathic) urticaria may provoke some triggers (allergens):

stress, constant worries, emotional disorders;
alcohol;
caffeine;
increase/decrease in temperature;
constant pressure on the skin (wearing tight clothes);
medications – painkillers, aspirin, opiates;
some food additives - salicylates, which are found in tomatoes, orange juice, food coloring;
insect bites;
exposure to water;
Taking ACE inhibitors (used to treat hypertension) can cause angioedema.

Photo of the disease

Chronic (idiopathic) urticaria appeared on the hands, photo:

Chronic (papular) urticaria, photo:

Diagnostics

If chronic recurrent urticaria is suspected it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

The disease is not life-threatening, but constant relapses cause considerable discomfort to patients.

A specialist will help you choose the right course of treatment, which will significantly prolong the period of remission.

For consultation and diagnosis should contact therapist, allergist or dermatologist.

Reference! Diagnosis during the period of exacerbation of the chronic form is not difficult and includes a routine examination of the patient’s skin. The diagnosis during remission of chronic urticaria is more difficult to make.

Allergist prescribes provocative tests and short-term exposure to provoking factors (ice cube test for, test against the background of physical activity - for, light irradiation of a skin area - for, exposure to pressure on the skin - contact dermatitis, placing limbs in a container with water - for aquagenic urticaria).

Besides(during remission and exacerbation) for the diagnosis of chronic (idiopathic) urticaria the doctor prescribes:

For a person who has chronic urticaria, treatment prescribe a comprehensive: drug therapy in combination with diet and light maintenance therapy using traditional medicine.

First aid

Let's find out what should be done if chronic urticaria appears and how to treat it:

elimination of allergen(if you were able to identify it);
one-time reception any antihistamine at night (Tavegil, Suprastin, Claritin) before going to the doctor;
one-time taking a sedative(motherwort extract, peony tincture);
when Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock - immediately call an ambulance.

Drug therapy

In addition to the treatment of concomitant conditions (diseases of the thyroid gland, stomach), which are prescribed by the doctor, the following drugs can be used in treatment chronic (recurrent) urticaria:

Antihistamines 1st and 2nd generations: they reduce the intensity of itching. 2nd generation drugs: Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, Alavert, Clarinex, Xyzal.
1st generation drugs: Vistaril, Benadryl, Suprastin, Tavegil, Cetirizine have a mild sedative effect.
Any antihistamine for chronic urticaria is prescribed 2 times a day for 3-12 months, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists: in the presence of bronchial spasms and allergic rhinitis, the drug Singulair is prescribed.
If there is no response to antihistamines and there is a concomitant stomach disease, the specialist may prescribe Colchicine and Dapsone, this antimicrobial, painkillers.
Systemic corticosteroids: effective in combating chronic urticaria when antihistamines do not help (Prednisolone).
Cyclosporine(Sandimmune-Neoral) and Methotrexate: prescribed against the background of autoimmune urticaria, when antihistamines do not help, used against severe forms of dermatitis, accompanied by severe itching, inflammation and swelling.
Levothyroxine(Levothroid): Prescribed for some patients with chronic hives associated with thyroid disease.

If you are concerned about chronic (recurrent) urticaria, treatment soothing creams and ointments will help relieve swelling and inflammation:

Fenistil-gel is a universal drug;
Nezulin and La-Cri anti-itch cream;
Advantan - will reduce pain and swelling;
Prednisolone ointment – similar to Hydrocortisone;
Sinaflan is a glucocorticosteroid ointment for itching.

Attention! All of the above drugs (dosage, duration of use) must be prescribed by the attending physician.

ethnoscience

Used as maintenance therapy.

Frozen chamomile cubes. Chamomile in bags can be purchased at any pharmacy. Fill 4 bags with boiling water (300 ml), use molds to make ice, place in the freezer. When the chamomile decoction freezes, wrap the cube in gauze or a napkin and apply it to damaged skin, this will relieve swelling and inflammation.

Attention! This method not suitable for patients with aquagenic/cold urticaria.

Diet

From the daily diet should be excluded allergenic products:

spicy, fried, salty foods seasoned with pepper, mustard, mayonnaise or fatty sauce;
chocolate, cookies, lollipops, cakes, pastries, crackers, bagels;
citrus fruits (especially strawberries, oranges);
coffee, alcohol;
seafood;
nuts;
all hard cheeses, with mold;

Instead, go on a diet need to add products that lower histamine levels:

Domestic bird.
Brown rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, quinoa, bulgur.
Fresh fruits - pears, apples, melons, watermelons, bananas, grapes.
Fresh vegetables (except tomatoes, spinach, eggplants).
Rice, hemp, almond milk.
Olive and coconut oil.
Herbal teas.

Remember! Chronic (idiopathic) urticaria requires an integrated approach to treatment and compliance with all preventive measures (diet, use of hypoallergenic drugs).

Seeking medical help for this form of the disease inevitably. With the right approach, the disease quickly turns into long-term remission stage.

A practicing dermatologist in the following video talked about the causes and recurrence of chronic urticaria, as well as methods of treating and preventing the disease.