Hives (Urticaria): symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as nettle rash, sudden itchy welts.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Hives are raised, intensely itchy welts that appear suddenly anywhere on the body, often as an allergic-type reaction to food, medicines, insect bites or infections — each welt typically fades within a day, though new ones may keep appearing. Most attacks settle quickly; the danger sign is swelling of the lips, tongue or throat.
Symptoms
Raised, itchy welts of varying sizes
Welts that move location over hours
Skin swelling, sometimes of lips or eyelids
Itching or burning
Each individual welt fading within 24 hours
Causes & risk factors
Allergic reactions to foods, medicines or insect stings
Infections, including viral illnesses and malaria
Heat, pressure or sunlight in sensitive people
Stress; often no cause is found in chronic cases
Treatment & self-care
Antihistamine tablets recommended by a pharmacist or doctor relieve most attacks; cool baths and loose cotton clothing soothe the skin. Identify and avoid any suspected food or drug trigger, and report drug-related hives to your doctor so the medicine can be changed. Hives recurring beyond six weeks deserve medical review.
See a doctor urgently if
Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or any difficulty breathing — emergency
Hives with dizziness, vomiting or collapse
Hives after starting a new medicine
Welts recurring for more than six weeks
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Hives (Urticaria)?
Early signs often include raised, itchy welts of varying sizes, welts that move location over hours, skin swelling, sometimes of lips or eyelids. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Hives (Urticaria) be treated?
Antihistamine tablets recommended by a pharmacist or doctor relieve most attacks; cool baths and loose cotton clothing soothe the skin. Identify and avoid any suspected food or drug trigger, and report drug-related hives to your doctor so the medicine can be changed. Hives recurring beyond six weeks deserve medical review.
When should I see a doctor about Hives (Urticaria)?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or any difficulty breathing — emergency; hives with dizziness, vomiting or collapse; hives after starting a new medicine; welts recurring for more than six weeks.