Urticaria research has helped to demonstrate that autoimmune diseases, bacterial infections and viral infections have played a role in triggering some forms of hives. Research of this kind has made it clear that urticaria does not constitute a simple ailment: It can be a manifestation of dysfunction in the immune system, pushing it to respond to infection in an unusual manner or to attack the body’s own cells.
Research on some forms of hives has revealed an association between them and some autoimmune diseases. These autoimmune diseases include autoimmune thyroid disorders (like Hashimoto’s disease and Grave’s disease) and lupus. All of these autoimmune diseases have been shown to coincide with hives in a number of patients. In many cases, it has turned out that the coincidence of hives and autoimmune disease is statistically significant.
One study, involving a group of chronic hives patients and a healthy control group, showed that the patients with hives were more likely than the people in the control group to show positive results when tested for autoimmune thyroid disease. When these patients were treated for thyroid disease, their hives were eliminated. The results were shown to be statistically significant. Hence they provided some evidence for the claim that autoimmune disease played some role in triggering hives.
Urticaria Research Findings on Bacterial and Viral Infections
Hives research, highlighting the implication of bacterial infections in the development of hives has shown that, with the successful treatment of bacterial infections using antibiotics, associated hives cases have been completely resolved. Of course, not all cases of hives are triggered by bacterial infections. In fact, it is possible for one’s hives to coincide with an unrelated bacterial infection. So it is important to recognize that given research findings will apply in a specific set of circumstances, but not in others.
Among the bacterial infections that have been identified as hives triggers in the aforementioned research are a variety of dental, gastrointestinal and ear, nose and throat infections. These include Helicobacter pylori infections (which cause stomach ulcers) and yersiniosis. Tonsillitis, pharyngitis, otitis and sinusitis, which may be caused by bacteria like staphylococci and streptococci, are also included in this category.
Some urticaria research cases have linked the development of hives to viral infections. These have included cases of both acute and chronic hives, and the associated infections have typically affected the upper respiratory system, the ENT region and the digestive system. The infections in question have included the flu, adenoviruses and rhinoviruses. It is telling that, with the successful treatment of these viral infections, the associated hives attacks have been completely eliminated.
