Hives

Hives (an itchy skin rash that appears raised and red with a white center, "welts" that may move around or spread)

Emergent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?

Hives, with itching, rapid heart beat or breathing problems
Extreme swelling around site of insect bite
Hives plus any of the following: wheezing, face, neck, lips, tongue swelling, throat tightness, difficulty swallowing or chest pain/tightness

Yes No

Seek Immediate Medical Attention!
These symptoms can be life-threatening.

An "epi-pen", a preloaded epinephrine syringe, can be kept handy for those who are highly allergic and may need immediate life saving intervention

Common causes of hives include medication reaction (penicillin, sulfa), shellfish, nuts, bee/wasp stings, extreme cold or heat and stress

In 90% of individuals, who experience hives, the cause is unknown and it happens only once

Hives may last 3-4 days or as long as 6 weeks

Persons with a history of asthma, emphysema, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney, thyroid disease or other chronic disease should contact their Health Care Provider before taking any over the counter ( OTC) medication

Urgent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?

3 or more recurrent episodes of hives
Reaction to medication
Hives that are spread over body with no known cause
Hives with abdominal pain and diarrhea
Hives continue after 3 days of self-management

Yes No

Contact Your Health Care Provider.

Self-Management - You can help in the following ways:

Atop medication if medication related and contact Health Care Provider
Avoid irritant that caused hives
Take over the counter (OTC) antihistamine (Benadryl)
Apply cool water compress or take cool water, Aveeno or baking soda bath

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Call Your Health Care Provider If:

You do not get better, new symptoms appear, you are concerned in any way or you have questions.