The synonymous terms “urticaria syndrome” and “hives syndrome” are potentially confusing. It may not be immediately apparent to the layperson what they mean. The first step towards understanding the terms involves looking up the definition of the word “syndrome.”
A syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that occur simultaneously. It often suggests that one has a certain disease or is likely to develop that disease. However, a syndrome is not always related to a specific disease. Some syndromes can be indicative of a number of different diseases. Other syndromes have absolutely nothing to do with disease. Yet other syndromes have no identifiable physical cause.
Diseases, on the other hand, are abnormal conditions that involve the impairment of function in an organism, and have readily identifiable causes. Diseases may be inherited, or they may result from environmental poisoning, infection or dietary deficiency.
Various conditions in which hives manifest as prominent symptoms are referred to as urticaria syndromes. Some examples include the five cold urticaria syndromes: idiopathic cold urticaria, secondary forms of cold urticaria (for instance cryolubulinemia and cold hemolysis), delayed cold urticaria, localized cold urticaria and localized cold reflex urticaria.
Contact Urticaria Syndrome
Another example of a hives syndrome is contact urticaria syndrome or CUS, which was first given this name in 1975. The factors that trigger this syndrome include metals, preservatives, foods and plant and animal products. This condition can be difficult to diagnose when the patient also has hand eczema as they can both be triggered in similar contexts (for instance, the healthcare workplace, where latex gloves abound).
When one has CUS, the irritation usually shows up on the skin within a period of a few minutes to one hour after exposure to the triggering factor. Knowledge of this fact might help the patient figure out what the likely triggering factor is.
The symptoms of CUS are similar to the symptoms that one encounters with other urticaria syndromes. They include an itching or burning sensation as well as the reddish bumps known as wheals. A number of CUS patients are able to identify the triggering factor because of the limited amount of time that passes between their exposure to it and their development of the symptoms.
Familial Cold Urticaria Syndrome
Familial cold urticaria syndrome is yet another hives syndrome. It is an autosomal dominant condition. This means that it is genetically transmitted and the patient needs only one copy of the altered gene from one affected parent for the condition to manifest. The symptoms include joint pain, fever and a rash on the skin whenever one is exposed to cold temperatures. It is evident for much of the patient’s life, usually beginning in infancy and continuing henceforth.
