This medicine, called epinephrine, is given by a shot. Some people who know they have serious allergies carry a special medicine to use in an emergency. In these cases, the person needs immediate medical care. Less often, hives can be a sign of a more serious allergic reaction that can affect breathing and other body functions. In many cases, hives clear up on their own without any medication or doctor visits. Sometimes, doctors will suggest you take a type of medicine called an antihistamine to relieve the itchiness. If you're getting hives a lot, or your reaction was serious, your doctor might send you to another doctor who specializes in allergies.
The doctor can try to help figure out what might be causing your hives, although often the cause will remain a mystery. What Will the Doctor Do?ĭoctors usually can diagnose hives just by looking at you and hearing your story about what happened. No matter what the cause, a case of hives can last for a few minutes, a few hours, or even days. exposure to the cold (like diving into a cold pool).Other causes of hives are not related to allergies and these can include: Some common allergic triggers are certain foods (like milk, wheat, eggs, shellfish, berries, and nuts), medicines (such as antibiotics), and insect stings or bites. One common reason for getting hives is an allergic reaction.
People can get hives for lots of different reasons (though sometimes, the cause is not known). When this fluid collects under the skin, it forms the blotches, which we call hives. This causes fluid to leak from the small blood vessels under the skin. When a person is exposed to something that can trigger hives, certain cells in the body release histamine (say: HIS-tuh-meen) and other substances. The medical term for hives is urticaria (say: ur-tuh-KAR-ee-uh). So, always tell your mom or dad if you get them. But occasionally they're a sign of a serious allergic reaction. Later, more may appear on the person's arms. A bunch of hives might be on a person's face, then go away. Hives can change locations in a matter of hours. The spots also might look like rings or groups of rings joined together in clusters.
They can be tiny or as big as a dinner plate. Hives usually itch, but they also can burn or sting. Hives are pink or red bumps or slightly raised patches of skin.