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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Hives generally:
- Appear as small round wheals, rings or large patches and may change shape
- Itch and may be surrounded by a red flare
- Occur in batches, and often appear on the face or the extremities
Individual hives can last from 30 minutes to 36 hours. As some hives disappear, new hives may develop.
About 40 percent of people with chronic hives also have angioedema. Signs and symptoms of angioedema include large welts or swelling of the skin that may occur around the eyes and lips, hands, feet, genitalia and inside the throat. Swelling in the throat can obstruct breathing and requires emergency treatment. Angioedema may itch less than hives do, but can cause pain or burning.
Symptoms may not occur all the time. They may come and go with no apparent trigger. For some people certain conditions, such as heat, exertion or stress, can make symptoms worse.
When to see a doctor
Although chronic hives and angioedema usually aren't life-threatening, they can be debilitating — and in some cases are a sign of an underlying health problem.
See your doctor if you have:
- Severe hives
- Hives that don't respond to treatment
- Hives that continue to appear for more than a couple of days
Seek emergency care if you:
- Feel lightheaded
- Have difficulty breathing
- Feel your throat is swelling
- Kaplan AP. Urticaria and angioedema. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2958607. Accessed May 2, 2009.
- Urticaria. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch109/ch109e.html. Accessed May 2, 2009.
- Austen KF. Allergies, anaphylaxis, and systemic mastocytosis. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2858746. Accessed May 2, 2009.
- Bingham CO. Etiology and diagnosis of urticaria. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Urticaria. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/urtic.htm. Accessed May 2, 2009.
- Fromer L. Treatment options for the relief of chronic idiopathic urticaria symptoms. Southern Medical Journal. 2008;101:186.
- Xyzal (prescribing information). Bridgewater, N.J.: Sanofi-Aventis. 2008. http://www.xyzal.com/pdf/pi.pdf. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Sicherer SH. Advances in allergic skin disease, anaphylaxis, and hypersensitivity reactions to foods, drugs, and insects in 2008. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009;123:319.
- Khan DA. Chronic urticaria: Diagnosis and management. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. 2008;29:439.
