Living with urticaria of the acute variety is, at most, a six week-long ordeal (but typically shorter). Living with hives of the chronic variety is another story.
Acute urticaria is often triggered by allergens or by viral infections. If the trigger is an allergen, it is possible for an allergy specialist to determine what it is by questioning the person with the symptoms and doing some tests. As for viral infections, it is often possible to recognize these by their associated symptoms.
When the trigger is identifiable, the patient can take steps to avoid or remove the trigger henceforth. Thus, the prospect of living with urticaria can be kept at bay. Sometimes, doing this is not even necessary: hives can resolve in a few hours or days, bringing an end to the itching, discomfort and wheals without any need for intervention.
Chronic hives are often idiopathic. This means that medical professionals are frequently unable to determine what the trigger of this form of hives is. Because they can last for years, the person living with hives of this form has to face the possibility that the symptoms will become a permanent part of his or her daily existence. The challenge for this patient is to figure out how to live a productive life, even with chronic hives.
The Impact of Medication on Those Living with Urticaria
Antihistamines are a popular treatment among sufferers of urticaria, especially now that non-sedating or low-sedating forms have been developed. Patients who use these antihistamines don’t have to worry about drowsiness. Thus, unlike hives patients who rely on soporific antihistamines, they can live their lives productively.
Medications that address the itching and wheals may make living with urticaria manageable. But that does not mean that they cure the condition. A person could easily spend decades suffering from hives and appearing to recover from them, only to succumb again. The oral corticosteroids that some patients take to treat the most severe forms of chronic hives help control the symptoms, but when taken for a long time they can weaken the immune system.
Some patients who use these corticosteroids are pleased with the results when they first use them. The hives clear up quickly, leaving no scars behind. However, a short while after the patient takes the last dose of the medication, the stubborn symptoms return. This means that the patient living with hives may have no choice but to continue taking potentially harmful medications indefinitely.
