The most common causes of hives are allergic reactions that trigger an immune system response. The immune system acts as if there is something foreign in the body and signals the body to release histamine to fight it. Some of the more common causes of hives may be:

• Insect bites
• Food allergies
• Temperature extremes
• Infections (fungal or viral)
• Food additives
• Tight clothes rubbing skin or repeated stroking of skin causes hives

These are very broad but common skin hives causes, particularly when looking for what causes hives of the acute variety.

What causes hive rash

The causes of hives, or what causes skin hives are well known. It is the actual trigger or triggers that have patients and doctors perplexed. It is the release of histamine that causes the small blood vessels to leak fluid. This fluid accumulates in the skin and is actually what causes the hives and the associated rash and wheals. But the trigger is never found in half the cases and chronic hives causes are even more difficult to figure out. The symptoms are usually straightforward to treat, but the causes of hives being so difficult to detect means that what causes rashes and hives will remain a mystery for many.

What causes hives in adults?

The causes of hives in adults, when they can be determined, are usually related to a drug the adult is taking or a reaction to food. Food allergies are where the difference in hives causes in adults differs most from children. In adults, the most common food causes of hives are shellfish, fish, peanuts, and other nuts.

This may be because are more likely to be on drugs or other medications and more likely to eat fish and shellfish than children. Painkillers are a common trigger and more adults use painkillers than children.

What are the causes of hives in children?

Viral infections are generally recognized as the most common causes for hives in children

When the causes of hives in children are narrowed down to food, the food causes in children tend to be mostly milk, eggs, soy, wheat, and peanuts or other nuts. Again, this may be anecdotal since children tend to eat more dairy products than adults, and by the time one becomes an adult, they will have likely already figured out that these dairy products are one of the causes of hives and are already avoiding them.

These are the main differences between what causes hives in children and adults. Most of the other identifiable causes are the same and treatment is usually the same for both adults and children. But you shouldn’t be surprised if the causes of hives is never identified, as the majority never are.

By definition, chronic hives are hives which last more than six weeks or hives that go away, but recur frequently. What causes chronic hives? Most chronic urticaria hives remain chronic idiopathic hives, which means their cause is never found. However, many of them have been found to be related to other underlying disorders. In fact with chronic hives, autoimmune symptoms can often follow. In hives, chronic cases have been linked to the following disorders:

• Chronic infections such as viral hepatitis, sinus infections, and urinary tract infection
• Bacterial infections which cause stomach ulcers
• Low or high thyroid function
• Diseases of the kidney or liver
• Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus

Hives has also been linked to certain medications. In fact, Dermatology.about.com states that about 10% of hives cases are caused by medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics are the medications known to most often cause hives.

Some medications, such as codeine, morphine, and aspirin, cause a direct release of histamine which sometimes makes the body break out in hives. Although, medications are not among the most common chronic hives causes, your doctor may go ahead and change some of your medications to eliminate any possible causes of chronic hives.

Chronic Hives Treatment

Treatment for chronic hives varies by the severity of the case. For a lot of people, simply taking antihistamines regularly will keep their hives under control. Oral corticosteroids may also be used to lessen swelling, redness, and itching. Many doctors have also found that the use of tricyclic antidepressants, such as doxepin, is very useful in cutting down histamine levels and relieving itch.

According to the Mayoclinic.com, symptoms can usually be treated with over-the-counter or prescription medication. However, if the first medication you try doesn’t work well to relieve your symptoms, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about trying something else. In cases of chronic hives, it is important to work with your doctor to find the medication, or combination of medications, that work best for you.

Chronic hives in children is often treated with the same types of drugs. Avoidance of potential triggers is a good way to manage chronic hives in children, but it is important to remember that their bodies are still growing. When cutting certain foods from their diet, be sure to add something like it back in so that they get plenty of nutrients. Also, you may want to observe a little before trying to eliminate activities that involve exercise and sunlight. Most importantly, remember that hives can be very miserable for children, so good support, empathy, and sympathy is significant. You can learn more about chronic hives and view chronic hives pictures at Chronichives.com, Webmd.com, and many other great sites.