WHAT TO DO ABOUT CHRONIC URTICARIA

Apr 20 2009

Sensitivity to aspirin is a fairly frequent cause of urticaria, and one that is easily tracked down. If you take aspirin regularly, cut them out for a few weeks and see if the urticaria improves. To check that it really was the aspirin, take a normal dose and see what effect this has. Other drugs that are similar to aspirin (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can also produce urticaria. These drugs (see p322) are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, period pains and headaches. Some are available without prescription.

Another prime suspect in chronic urticaria is infestation with die yeast known as Candida. This problem is described in more detail in Chapter Ten. Where urticaria occurs, it may be because the person is allergic to substances produced by the Candida. Some doctors use skin-prick tests with Candida extracts to test for this, but this will not necessarily prove anything – perfectly healthy people often give a positive skin-prick test to Candida.

If Candida seems unlikely, and other possible causes have been ruled out by your doctor, then you should consider the possibility of food sensitivity. Food additives are often the source of trouble. Alternatively, skin-prick tests may be able to show which foods or additives are the source of the problem. However, skin-prick tests are not foolproof in urticaria, and for some people an elimination diet will be the only way of getting to the root of their problem.

It is rarely a single food or food additive that is implicated in chronic urticaria. As with acute urticaria, antibiotics and other medicinal drugs can play a part. So too can contactants, such as the nickel found in cheap jewellery, although this is unusual.