Hives - wikipedia Hives For other uses, see Hive ( disambiguation ). Hives Synonyms Urticaria Hives on the arm Specialty Dermatology Symptoms Red, raised, itchy bumps Duration A few days Causes Following an infection, result of an allergic reaction Risk factors Hay fever, asthma Diagnostic method Based on symptoms, patch testing Treatment Antihistamines, corticosteroids, leukotriene inhibitors Frequency ~ 20 % Hives, also known as urticaria, is a kind of skin rash with red, raised, itchy bumps. They may also burn or sting. Often the patches of rash move around. Typically they last a few days and do not leave any long - lasting skin changes. Fewer than 5 % of cases last for more than six weeks. The condition frequently recurs. Hives frequently occur following an infection or as a result of an allergic reaction such as to medication, insect bites, or food. Psychological stress, cold temperature, or vibration may also be a trigger. In half of cases the cause remains unknown. Risk factors include having conditions such as hay fever or asthma. Diagnosis is typically based on the appearance. Patch testing may be useful to determine the allergy. Prevention is by avoiding whatever it is that causes the condition. Treatment is typically with antihistamines such as diphenhydramine and ranitidine. In severe cases, corticosteroids or leukotriene inhibitors may also be used. Keeping the environmental temperature cool is also useful. For cases that last more than six weeks immunosuppressants such as ciclosporin may be used. About 20 % of people are affected. Cases of short duration occur equally in males and females while cases of long duration are more common in females. Cases of short duration are more common among children while cases of long duration are more common among those who are middle aged. Hives have been described at least since the time of Hippocrates. The term urticaria is from the Latin urtica meaning `` nettle ''. Contents 1 Signs and symptoms 2 Cause 2.1 Medications 2.2 Food 2.3 Infection or environmental agent 2.4 Dermatographic urticaria 2.5 Pressure or delayed pressure 2.6 Cholinergic or stress 2.7 Cold - induced 2.8 Solar urticaria 2.9 Water - induced 2.10 Exercise 3 Pathophysiology 3.1 Allergic hives 3.2 Autoimmune hives 3.3 Infections 3.4 Nonallergic hives 3.5 Dietary histamine poisoning 3.6 Stress and chronic idiopathic hives 4 Diagnosis 4.1 Acute versus chronic 4.2 Related conditions 4.2. 1 Angioedema 4.2. 2 Vibratory angioedema 5 Management 5.1 Antihistamines 5.2 Systemic steroids 5.3 Leukotriene - receptor antagonists 5.4 Other 6 Research 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Signs and symptoms Hives on the left chest wall. Notice that they are slightly raised. Drawing of hives Welts ( raised areas surrounded by a red base ) from hives can appear anywhere on the surface of the skin. Whether the trigger is allergic or not, a complex release of inflammatory mediators, including histamine from cutaneous mast cells, results in fluid leakage from superficial blood vessels. Welts may be pinpoint in size, or several inches in diameter. Angioedema is a related condition ( also from allergic and nonallergic causes ), though fluid leakage is from much deeper blood vessels in the subcutaneous or submucosal layers. Individual hives that are painful, last more than 24 hours, or leave a bruise as they heal are more likely to be a more serious condition called urticarial vasculitis. Hives caused by stroking the skin ( often linear in appearance ) are due to a benign condition called dermatographic urticaria. Cause Hives can also be classified by the purported causative agent. Many different substances in the environment may cause hives, including medications, food and physical agents. In perhaps more than 50 % of people with chronic hives of unknown cause, it is due to an autoimmune reaction. Medications Drugs that have caused allergic reactions evidenced as hives include codeine, dextroamphetamine, aspirin, ibuprofen, penicillin, clotrimazole, trichazole, sulfonamides, anticonvulsants, cefaclor, piracetam, vaccines, and antidiabetic drugs. The antidiabetic sulphonylurea glimepiride, in particular, has been documented to induce allergic reactions manifesting as hives. Drug - induced hives has been known to have an effect on severe cardiorespiratory failure. Food The most common food allergies in adults are shellfish and nuts. The most common food allergies in children are shellfish, nuts, eggs, wheat, and soy. One study showed Balsam of Peru, which is in many processed foods, to be the most common cause of immediate contact urticaria. A less common cause is exposure to certain bacteria, such as Streptococcus species or possibly Helicobacter pylori. Infection or environmental agent Hives including chronic spontaneous hives can be a complication and symptom of a parasitic infection, such as blastocystosis and strongyloidiasis among others. The rash that develops from poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac contact is commonly mistaken for urticaria. This rash is caused by contact with urushiol and results in a form of contact dermatitis called urushiol - induced contact dermatitis. Urushiol is spread by contact, but can be washed off with a strong grease - or oil - dissolving detergent and cool water and rubbing ointments. Dermatographic urticaria Main article : Dermatographic urticaria Dermatographic urticaria ( also known as dermatographism or `` skin writing '' ) is marked by the appearance of weals or welts on the skin as a result of scratching or firm stroking of the skin. Seen in 4 -- 5 % of the population, it is one of the most common types of urticaria, in which the skin becomes raised and inflamed when stroked, scratched, rubbed, and sometimes even slapped. The skin reaction usually becomes evident soon after the scratching, and disappears within 30 minutes. Dermatographism is the most common form of a subset of chronic hives, acknowledged as `` physical hives ''. It stands in contrast to the linear reddening that does not itch seen in healthy people who are scratched. In most cases, the cause is unknown, although it may be preceded by a viral infection, antibiotic therapy, or emotional upset. Dermographism is diagnosed by taking a tongue blade and drawing it over the skin of the arm or back. The hives should develop within a few minutes. Unless the skin is highly sensitive and reacts continually, treatment is not needed. Taking antihistamines can reduce the response in cases that are annoying to the patient. Pressure or delayed pressure This type of hives can occur right away, precisely after a pressure stimulus or as a deferred response to sustained pressure being enforced to the skin. In the deferred form, the hives only appear after about six hours from the initial application of pressure to the skin. Under normal circumstances, these hives are not the same as those witnessed with most urticariae. Instead, the protrusion in the affected areas is typically more spread out. The hives may last from eight hours to three days. The source of the pressure on the skin can happen from tight fitted clothing, belts, clothing with tough straps, walking, leaning against an object, standing, sitting on a hard surface, etc. The areas of the body most commonly affected are the hands, feet, trunk, abdomen, buttocks, legs and face. Although this appears to be very similar to dermatographism, the cardinal difference is that the swelled skin areas do not become visible quickly and tend to last much longer. This form of the skin disease is, however, rare. Cholinergic or stress Main article : Cholinergic urticaria Cholinergic urticaria ( CU ) is one of the physical urticaria which is provoked during sweating events such as exercise, bathing, staying in a heated environment, or emotional stress. The hives produced are typically smaller than classic hives and are generally shorter - lasting. Multiple subtypes have been elucidated, each of which require distinct treatment. Cold - induced Further information : Chronic cold urticaria The cold type of urticaria is caused by exposure of the skin to extreme cold, damp and windy conditions ; it occurs in two forms. The rare form is hereditary and becomes evident as hives all over the body 9 to 18 hours after cold exposure. The common form of cold urticaria demonstrates itself with the rapid onset of hives on the face, neck, or hands after exposure to cold. Cold urticaria is common and lasts for an average of five to six years. The population most affected is young adults, between 18 and 25 years old. Many people with the condition also suffer from dermographism and cholinergic hives. Severe reactions can be seen with exposure to cold water ; swimming in cold water is the most common cause of a severe reaction. This can cause a massive discharge of histamine, resulting in low blood pressure, fainting, shock and even loss of life. Cold urticaria is diagnosed by dabbing an ice cube against the skin of the forearm for 1 to 5 minutes. A distinct hive should develop if a patient suffers cold urticaria. This is different from the normal redness that can be seen in people without cold urticaria. Patients with cold urticaria need to learn to protect themselves from a hasty drop in body temperature. Regular antihistamines are not generally efficacious. One particular antihistamine, cyproheptadine ( Periactin ), has been found to be useful. The tricyclic antidepressant doxepin has also been found to be an effective blocking agent of histamine discharge. Finally, a medication named ketotifen, which keeps mast cells from discharging histamine, has also been employed with widespread success. Solar urticaria Main article : Solar urticaria This form of the disease occurs on areas of the skin exposed to the sun ; the condition becomes evident within minutes of exposure. Water - induced Main article : Water urticaria This type of urticaria is also termed rare, and occurs upon contact with water. The response is not temperature - dependent and the skin appears similar to cholinergic form of the disease. The appearance of hives is within one to 15 minutes of contact with the water, and can last from 10 minutes to two hours. This kind of hives do not seem to be stimulated by histamine discharge like the other physical hives. Most researchers believe this condition is actually skin sensitivity to additives in the water, such as chlorine. Water urticaria is diagnosed by dabbing tap water and distilled water to the skin and observing the gradual response. Aquagenic urticaria is treated with capsaicin ( Zostrix ) administered to the chafed skin. This is the same treatment used for shingles. Antihistamines are of questionable benefit in this instance, since histamine is not the causative factor. Chizzola maculae is a very specific skin lesion due to fluoride exposure. The size of a coin, these lesions may resemble small blue bruises or be wholly pink. Doctors George Waldbott and V.A. Cecilioni named the lesions after a town in Italy, where they were common in young women and children. According to Waldbott, chizzola maculae are early symptoms of fluoride intoxication. Exercise The condition was first distinguished in 1980. People with exercise urticaria ( EU ) experience hives, itchiness, shortness of breath and low blood pressure five to 30 minutes after beginning exercise. These symptoms can progress to shock and even sudden death. Jogging is the most common exercise to cause EU, but it is not induced by a hot shower, fever, or with fretfulness. This differentiates EU from cholinergic urticaria. EU sometimes occurs only when someone exercises within 30 minutes of eating particular foods, such as wheat or shellfish. For these individuals, exercising alone or eating the injuring food without exercising produces no symptoms. EU can be diagnosed by having the patient exercise and then observing the symptoms. This method must be used with caution and only with the appropriate resuscitative measures at hand. EU can be differentiated from cholinergic urticaria by the hot water immersion test. In this test, the patient is immersed in water at 43 ° C ( 109.4 ° F ). Someone with EU will not develop hives, while a person with cholinergic urticaria will develop the characteristic small hives, especially on the neck and chest. The immediate symptoms of this type are treated with antihistamines, epinephrine and airway support. Taking antihistamines prior to exercise may be effective. Ketotifen is acknowledged to stabilise mast cells and prevent histamine release, and has been effective in treating this hives disorder. Avoiding exercise or foods that cause the mentioned symptoms is very important. In particular circumstances, tolerance can be brought on by regular exercise, but this must be under medical supervision. Pathophysiology See also : List of human leukocyte antigen alleles associated with cutaneous conditions The skin lesions of urticarial disease are caused by an inflammatory reaction in the skin, causing leakage of capillaries in the dermis, and resulting in an edema which persists until the interstitial fluid is absorbed into the surrounding cells. Hives is caused by the release of histamine and other mediators of inflammation ( cytokines ) from cells in the skin. This process can be the result of an allergic or nonallergic reaction, differing in the eliciting mechanism of histamine release. Allergic hives Histamine and other proinflammatory substances are released from mast cells in the skin and tissues in response to the binding of allergen - bound IgE antibodies to high - affinity cell surface receptors. Basophils and other inflammatory cells are also seen to release histamine and other mediators, and are thought to play an important role, especially in chronic urticarial diseases. Autoimmune hives Over half of all cases of chronic idiopathic hives are the result of an autoimmune trigger. Roughly 50 % of patients with chronic urticaria spontaneously develop autoantibodies directed at the receptor FcεRI located on skin mast cells. Chronic stimulation of this receptor leads to chronic hives. Patients often have other autoimmune conditions, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren 's syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus. Infections Hive - like rashes commonly accompany viral illnesses, such as the common cold. They usually appear three to five days after the cold has started, and may even appear a few days after the cold has resolved. Nonallergic hives Mechanisms other than allergen - antibody interactions are known to cause histamine release from mast cells. Many drugs, for example morphine, can induce direct histamine release not involving any immunoglobulin molecule. Also, a diverse group of signaling substances, called neuropeptides, have been found to be involved in emotionally induced hives. Dominantly inherited cutaneous and neurocutaneous porphyrias ( porphyria cutanea tarda, hereditary coproporphyria, variegate porphyria and erythropoietic protoporphyria ) have been associated with solar urticaria. The occurrence of drug - induced solar urticaria may be associated with porphyrias. This may be caused by IgG binding, not IgE. Dietary histamine poisoning This is termed scombroid food poisoning. Ingestion of free histamine released by bacterial decay in fish flesh may result in a rapid - onset, allergic - type symptom complex which includes hives. However, the hives produced by scombroid is reported not to include wheals. Stress and chronic idiopathic hives Chronic idiopathic hives has been anecdotally linked to stress since the 1940s. A large body of evidence demonstrates an association between this condition and both poor emotional well - being and reduced health - related quality of life. A link between stress and this condition has also been shown. A recent study has demonstrated an association between stressful life events ( e.g. bereavement, divorce, etc. ) and chronic idiopathic urticaria and also an association between post-traumatic stress and chronic idiopathic hives. Diagnosis The cause of chronic hives can rarely be determined. In some cases regular extensive allergy testing over a long period of time is requested in hopes of getting new insight. No evidence shows regular allergy testing results in identification of a problem or relief for people with chronic hives. Regular allergy testing for people with chronic hives is not recommended. Acute versus chronic Acute urticaria is defined as the presence of evanescent wheals which completely resolve within six weeks. Acute urticaria becomes evident a few minutes after the person has been exposed to an allergen. The outbreak may last several weeks, but usually the hives are gone in six weeks. Typically, the hives are a reaction to food, but in about half the cases, the trigger is unknown. Common foods may be the cause, as well as bee or wasp stings, or skin contact with certain fragrances. Acute viral infection is another common cause of acute urticaria ( viral exanthem ). Less common causes of hives include friction, pressure, temperature extremes, exercise, and sunlight. Chronic urticaria ( ordinary urticaria ) is defined as the presence of evanescent wheals which persist for greater than six weeks. Some of the more severe chronic cases have lasted more than 20 years. A survey indicated chronic urticaria lasted a year or more in more than 50 % of sufferers and 20 years or more in 20 % of them. Acute and chronic hives are visually indistinguishable. Related conditions Angioedema Angioedema is similar to hives, but in angioedema, the swelling occurs in a lower layer of the dermis than in hives, as well as in the subcutis. This swelling can occur around the mouth, eyes, in the throat, in the abdomen, or in other locations. Hives and angioedema sometimes occur together in response to an allergen, and is a concern in severe cases, as angioedema of the throat can be fatal. Vibratory angioedema This very rare form of angioedema develops in response to contact with vibration. In vibratory angioedema, symptoms develop within two to five minutes after contact with a vibrating object, and abate after about an hour. Patients with this disorder do not suffer from dermographism or pressure urticaria. Vibratory angioedema is diagnosed by holding a vibrating device such as a laboratory vortex machine against the forearm for four minutes. Speedy swelling of the whole forearm extending into the upper arm is also noted later. The principal treatment is avoidance of vibratory stimulants. Antihistamines have also been proven helpful. Management The mainstay of therapy for both acute and chronic hives is patient education, avoiding triggers and using antihistamines. Chronic hives can be difficult to treat and lead to significant disability. Unlike the acute form, 50 -- 80 % of people with chronic hives have no identifiable triggers. Fortunately, 50 % of people with chronic hives will experience remission within 1 year. Overall, treatment is geared towards symptomatic management. Individuals with chronic hives may need other medications in addition to antihistamines to control symptoms. Patients who experience hives with angioedema require emergency treatment as this is a life - threatening condition. Treatment guidelines for the management of chronic hives have been published. According to the 2014 American practice parameters, treatment involves a step wise approach. Step 1 consists of second generation, H1 receptor blocking antihistamines. Systemic glucocorticoids can also be used for episodes of severe disease but should not be used for long term due to their long list of side effects. Step 2 consists of increasing the dose of the current antihistamine, adding other antihistamines, or adding a leukotriene receptor antagonist such as montelukast. Step 3 consists of adding or replacing the current treatment with hydroxyzine or doxepin. If the individual does n't respond to steps 1 -- 3 then they are considered to have refractory symptoms. At this point, anti-inflammatory medications ( dapsone, sulfasalazine ), immunosuppressants ( cyclosporin, sirolimus ) or other medications like omalizumab can be used. These options are explained in more detail below. Antihistamines Non-sedating antihistamines that block the histamine H1 receptors are the first line of therapy. First generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine or hydroxyzine block both central and peripheral H1 receptors and can be sedating. Second generation antihistamines such as loratadine, cetirizine, or desloratadine selectively antagonize the peripheral H1 receptors and are less sedating, less anticholinergic, and generally preferred over the first generation antihistamines. People who do n't respond to the maximum dose of H1 antihistamines may benefit from increasing the dose, then to switching to another non-sedating antihistamine, then to adding a leukotriene antagonist, then to using an older antihistamine, then to using systemic steroids and finally to using ciclosporin or omalizumab. Systemic steroids Oral glucocorticoids are effective in controlling symptoms of chronic hives however they have an extensive list of adverse effects such as adrenal suppression, weight gain, osteoporosis, hyperglycemia, etc. Therefore, their use should be limited to a couple of weeks. In addition, one study found that systemic glucocorticoids combined with antihistamines did not hasten the time to symptom control compared with antihistamines alone. Leukotriene - receptor antagonists Leukotrienes are released from mast cells along with histamine. The medications, montelukast and zafirlukast block leukotriene receptors and can be used as add on treatment or in isolation for patients with CU. It is important to note that these medications may be more beneficial for patients with NSAID induced CU. Other Other options for refractory symptoms of chronic hives include anti-inflammatory medications, omalizumab, and immunosuppressants. Potential anti-inflammatory agents include dapsone, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine. Dapsone is a sulfone antimicrobial agent and is thought to suppress prostaglandin and leukotriene activity. It is helpful in therapy - refractory cases and is contraindicated in patients with G6PD deficiency. Sulfasalazine, a 5 - ASA derivative, is thought to alter adenosine release and inhibit IgE mediated mast cell degranulation, Sulfasalazine is a good option for people with anemia who can not take dapsone. Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial agent that suppresses T lymphocytes. It has a low cost however it takes longer than dapsone or sulfasalazine to work. Omalizumab was approved by the FDA in 2014 for patients 12 years old and above with chronic hives. It is a monoclonal antibody directed against IgE. Significant improvement in pruritus and quality of life was observed in a phase III, multicenter, randomized control trial. Immunosuppressants used for CU include cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, and mycophenolate. Calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, inhibit cell responsiveness to mast cell products and inhibit T cell activity. They are preferred by some experts to treat severe symptoms. 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Jump up ^ Pacor ML, Di Lorenzo G, Corrocher R ( 2001 ). `` Efficacy of leukotriene receptor antagonist in chronic urticaria. A double - blind, placebo - controlled comparison of treatment with montelukast and cetirizine in patients with chronic urticaria with intolerance to food additive and / or acetylsalicylic acid ''. Clin Exp Allergy. 31 ( 10 ) : 1607 -- 1614. doi : 10.1046 / j. 1365 - 2222.2001. 01189. x. PMID 11678862. Jump up ^ Boehm I, et al. ( Jul 1999 ). `` Urticaria treated with dapsone ''. Allergy. 54 ( 7 ) : 765 -- 6. doi : 10.1034 / j. 1398 - 9995.1999. 00187. x. PMID 10442538. Jump up ^ Maurer, Marcus ; Rosén, Karin ; Hsieh, Hsin - Ju ; Saini, Sarbjit ; Grattan, Clive ; Gimenéz - Arnau, Ana ; Agarwal, Sunil ; Doyle, Ramona ; Canvin, Janice ; Kaplan, Allen ; Casale, Thomas ( 2013 ). `` Omalizumab for the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic or Spontaneous Urticaria ''. New England Journal of Medicine. 368 ( 10 ) : 924 -- 35. doi : 10.1056 / NEJMoa1215372. PMID 23432142. 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External links Classification V T D ICD - 10 : L50 ICD - 9 - CM : 708 MeSH : D014581 DiseasesDB : 13606 External resources MedlinePlus : 000845 eMedicine : search / Urticaria Patient UK : Hives Media related to Hives at Wikimedia Commons Urticaria photo library at Dermnet Diseases of the skin and appendages by morphology Growths Epidermal wart callus seborrheic keratosis acrochordon molluscum contagiosum actinic keratosis squamous - cell carcinoma basal - cell carcinoma Merkel - cell carcinoma nevus sebaceous trichoepithelioma Pigmented Freckles lentigo melasma nevus melanoma Dermal and subcutaneous epidermal inclusion cyst hemangioma dermatofibroma ( benign fibrous histiocytoma ) keloid lipoma neurofibroma xanthoma Kaposi 's sarcoma infantile digital fibromatosis granular cell tumor leiomyoma lymphangioma circumscriptum myxoid cyst Rashes With epidermal involvement Eczematous contact dermatitis atopic dermatitis seborrheic dermatitis stasis dermatitis lichen simplex chronicus Darier 's disease glucagonoma syndrome langerhans cell histiocytosis lichen sclerosus pemphigus foliaceus Wiskott -- Aldrich syndrome Zinc deficiency Scaling psoriasis tinea ( corporis cruris pedis manuum faciei ) pityriasis rosea secondary syphilis mycosis fungoides systemic lupus erythematosus pityriasis rubra pilaris parapsoriasis ichthyosis Blistering herpes simplex herpes zoster varicella bullous impetigo acute contact dermatitis pemphigus vulgaris bullous pemphigoid dermatitis herpetiformis porphyria cutanea tarda epidermolysis bullosa simplex Papular scabies insect bite reactions lichen planus miliaria keratosis pilaris lichen spinulosus transient acantholytic dermatosis lichen nitidus pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta Pustular acne vulgaris acne rosacea folliculitis impetigo candidiasis gonococcemia dermatophyte coccidioidomycosis subcorneal pustular dermatosis Hypopigmented tinea versicolor vitiligo pityriasis alba postinflammatory hyperpigmentation tuberous sclerosis idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis leprosy hypopigmented mycosis fungoides Without epidermal involvement Red Blanchable Erythema Generalized drug eruptions viral exanthems toxic erythema systemic lupus erythematosus Localized cellulitis abscess boil erythema nodosum carcinoid syndrome fixed drug eruption Specialized urticaria erythema ( multiforme migrans gyratum repens annulare centrifugum ab igne ) Nonblanchable Purpura Macular thrombocytopenic purpura actinic / solar purpura Papular disseminated intravascular coagulation vasculitis Indurated scleroderma / morphea granuloma annulare lichen sclerosis et atrophicus necrobiosis lipoidica Miscellaneous disorders Ulcers Hair telogen effluvium androgenic alopecia alopecia areata systemic lupus erythematosus tinea capitis loose anagen syndrome lichen planopilaris folliculitis decalvans acne keloidalis nuchae Nail onychomycosis psoriasis paronychia ingrown nail Mucous membrane Aphthous stomatitis oral candidiasis lichen planus leukoplakia pemphigus vulgaris mucous membrane pemphigoid cicatricial pemphigoid herpesvirus coxsackievirus syphilis systemic histoplasmosis squamous - cell carcinoma Urticaria and erythema ( L50 -- L54, 695, 708 ) Urticaria ( acute / chronic ) Allergic urticaria Urticarial allergic eruption Physical urticaria Cold urticaria Familial Primary cold contact urticaria Secondary cold contact urticaria Reflex cold urticaria Heat urticaria Localized heat contact urticaria Solar urticaria Dermatographic urticaria Vibratory angioedema Pressure urticaria Cholinergic urticaria Aquagenic urticaria Other urticaria Acquired C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency Adrenergic urticaria Exercise urticaria Galvanic urticaria Schnitzler syndrome Urticaria - like follicular mucinosis Angioedema Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia Hereditary angioedema Erythema Erythema multiforme / drug eruption Erythema multiforme minor Erythema multiforme major Stevens -- Johnson syndrome, Toxic epidermal necrolysis panniculitis ( Erythema nodosum ) Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis Figurate erythema Erythema annulare centrifugum Erythema marginatum Erythema migrans Erythema gyratum repens Other erythema Necrolytic migratory erythema Erythema toxicum Erythroderma Palmar erythema Generalized erythema Hypersensitivity and autoimmune diseases ( 279.5 -- 6 ) Type I / allergy / atopy ( IgE ) Foreign Atopic eczema Allergic urticaria Allergic rhinitis ( Hay fever ) Allergic asthma Anaphylaxis Food allergy common allergies include : Milk Egg Peanut Tree nut Seafood Soy Wheat Penicillin allergy Autoimmune Eosinophilic esophagitis Type II / ADCC IgM IgG Foreign Hemolytic disease of the newborn Autoimmune Cytotoxic Autoimmune hemolytic anemia Immune thrombocytopenic purpura Bullous pemphigoid Pemphigus vulgaris Rheumatic fever Goodpasture syndrome Guillain -- Barré syndrome `` Type V '' / receptor Graves ' disease Myasthenia gravis Pernicious anemia Type III ( Immune complex ) Foreign Henoch -- Schönlein purpura Hypersensitivity vasculitis Reactive arthritis Farmer 's lung Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis Serum sickness Arthus reaction Autoimmune Systemic lupus erythematosus Subacute bacterial endocarditis Rheumatoid arthritis Type IV / cell - mediated ( T cells ) Foreign Allergic contact dermatitis Mantoux test Autoimmune Diabetes mellitus type 1 Hashimoto 's thyroiditis Multiple sclerosis Coeliac disease Giant - cell arteritis Postorgasmic illness syndrome Reactive arthritis GVHD Transfusion - associated graft versus host disease Unknown / multiple Foreign Hypersensitivity pneumonitis Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis Transplant rejection Latex allergy ( I + IV ) Autoimmune Sjögren syndrome Autoimmune hepatitis Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome APS1 APS2 Autoimmune adrenalitis Systemic autoimmune disease GND : 4075291 - 4 NDL : 00574800 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hives&oldid=832820493 '' Categories : Urticaria and angioedema Type I hypersensitivity Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list Articles with inconsistent citation formats CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Infobox medical condition ( new ) All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2013 Articles with unsourced statements from September 2016 Commons category with page title different than on Wikidata Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers RTT RTTEM Talk Contents About Wikipedia Acèh Български Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Ido Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Қазақша Кыргызча Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių മലയാളം Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Polski Português Română Русский سنڌي کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Basa Sunda Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 粵語 中文 41 more Edit links This page was last edited on 28 March 2018, at 05 : 00. 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Question: the medical term for what is commonly called hives is
Answer: urticaria