Urticaria

Question 1

What is Urticaria?

Answer 1

• Urticaria is a local or generalised superficial swelling of the skin
• Itchy wheals present
• It is due to increase in permeability of capillaries and small venules
• A large number of inflammatory mediators are activated including prostaglandins, leukotrienes and the major role being histamine derived from skin mast cells.

Question 2

What are the causes of Urticaria?

Answer 2

• Idiopathic
• Food (nuts, sesame seeds, shellfish, dairy)
• Drugs (penicillin, NSAIDs, Morphine, ACE, insect bites, contact, viral or parasitic infections, autoimmune and hereditary)

Question 3

Wh

                    at is the managment for Urticaria?

Answer 3

1st: non-sedating histamines
2nd: Corticosteroids for severe acute urticaria and angioedema

Question 4

What is Angioedema?

Answer 4

• Deeper swelling involving the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue: swelling of the tongue and lips

Question 5

What is the managment for Angioedema?

Answer 5

• corticosteroids

Question 6

What is anaphylaxis?

Answer 6

• Bronchospasm, facial and laryngeal oedema, hypotension

Question 7

What is the treatment for anaphylaxis?

Answer 7

• `Adrenaline, Corticosteroids and antihistamines