Urticaria

The typical symptoms of urticaria include weals (urticae) that develop within minutes and some of which are very itchy and are preceded by a redness of the skin. The weals normally occur singularly or in the form of patches; in rarer cases, they are spread over the entire body. Occasionally, the mucuous membranes are also affected in addition to the skin (angio-oedema). Swellings occur here due to water seeping out of the vessels. Urticaria normally progresses in a benign way. Life-threatening complications can occur if swelling occurs in the laryngeal area, or if the entire body is affected. An increasing hoarseness up to the loss of one's voice can indicate that the larynx is also affected. Queasiness, nausea, a furry feeling on the tongue and paraesthesia (tingling of the skin) or itchy hands and feet indicate an anaphylactic reaction (reduction in blood pressure up to and including shock).