urticaria / angioedema

Question 1

causes of urticaria ?

Answer 1

idiopathic - especially chronic urticaria

allergy

Question 2

urticaria features ?

Answer 2

pale, pink raised skin. Variously described as ‘hives’, ‘wheals’, ‘nettle rash’
pruritic

Question 3

mx of urticaria ?

Answer 3

non-sedating antihistamines (e.g. loratadine or cetirizine)
are first-line

continuing these for up to 6 weeks following an episode of acute urticaria

a sedating antihistamine (e.g. chlorphenamine) may be considered for night-time use (in addition to day-time non-sedating antihistamine) for troublesome sleep symptoms

prednisolone is used for severe or resistant episodes