title: [Acute, chronic or physical urticaria. What causes the hives?].
abstract: Urticaria is characterized by strongly pruritic wheals and in some cases, angioedema. On the basis of a careful case history, the type of urticaria presenting can usually be determined. In the case of the acute form, no complicated diagnostic work-up is necessary. Treatment is symptomatic: the use of ASA should be avoided, while an acute infection requires treatment. When there is recurrent angioedema, chronic urticaria and physical forms, a multitude of triggering factors must be considered. In many cases, symptoms may persist for years. Symptomatic treatment with antihistaminics is often inadequate, but long-term treatment with glucocorticoids should be avoided on account of their side effects. For this reason, further diagnostic work-up is usually necessary and, where indicated, treatment should be initiated by a dermatologist with specialist training in allergology.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Medizin. Hochschule Hannover. Bettina_Wedi@t-online.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wedi
mesh_terms: D000799:Angioedema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006633:Histamine Antagonists
vernacular_title: Akute, chronische oder physikalische Urtikaria. Wo kommen die Quaddeln her?