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Cold urticaria Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Overview
Table of Contents
Cold urticarial is an allergic infection in the skin due to a cold. The reaction in the skin due to the cold urticaria is visible within minutes only. Although, this disease is rare cases still come of it. The cold urticarial-affected person faces itchy, dry, and wrinkled skin.
Cold urticaria disease is a reason for many daily activities. Activities like swimming in cold water, drinking or eating cold items, living in temperatures lower than room temperature and other such things are the major cause of this.
One can develop red welts on their skin, inflamed hands, legs and lips and this exposure can last for 2-3 hours.
Treatments are available and the disease must not be ignored or it may lead to unconsciousness, shock or even death.
Types of cold urticaria
Generally, there are two basic types of cols urticaria. They are –
1. Acquired cold urticaria –
here, the symptoms start within five minutes and last for two hours.
2. Hereditary cold urticaria –
symptoms start within 24 hours to two days and last for about two more days.
Symptoms
The symptoms generally start suddenly when the body is exposed to cold. The worsening symptoms that be seen in a person can be any of the following –
• Hives in any body part
• The skin becomes worsen as warmth is provided
• Inflamed hands when exposed to cold objects
• Swollen lips and mouth while eating or drinking cold items
• Immobility in breathing
• Drowning
• anxiety
• Unconsciousness
• Anaphylaxis
• Headache
• Burning sensation
• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Low blood pressure
• Heart palpitation
• Fainted feeling
What are the causes of cold urticaria
The exact cause of cold urticaria is still unknown. Studying all the cases and based on research, cold urticaria may be the cause of –
• Too much sensitive skin
• Genetics or parental history
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Too much exposure to sunlight
• Exposure to other viruses, bacteria or allergens
• Sitting for a long time
• Stress
• Insect bites
• Side effects of some other medications
• Air conditioners
• Suffering from cancer
• Young adults
When is the consult of doctor needed ?
If you also suffer skin reaction issues after you get exposed to cold, and it’s often, then you must consult your doctor. You must not ignore if the symptoms are even mild, you should wait for them to become severe. Have the medical attention immediately.
Basic tips for Prevention –
You can prevent cold urticaria by taking following small steps –
• Protect your skin from cold exposure
• Avoid cold items
• Go for OTC antihistamine before going swimming or something cold
• Wear warm protective clothes during the winter season or on the day when it is a slight cold
• Consume food at room temperature
• Go for the prescribed medications by your doctors
• Exercise well as it will provide warm up to your body from inside
• Avoid cold cosmetics
• Do not live in a cooler temperature area
Cold urticaria can leas to serious conditions like –
• Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
• Cold agglutinin disease
• Raynaud’s disease
Diagnosis
Cold urticaria can be diagnosed by
• Complete blood count ( CBC ) test is performed by the doctors
• Erythrocyte sedimentation
• C-reactive protein test
• Cold stimulation test (Placing ice on the skin to see the reaction )
• Physical touch to study your skin
Treatments
Cold urticaria goes away in a few people themselves with the passage of time, but the majority need treatments. Although a proper cure is not there, medications, tricks and some therapies might reduce them to a lot extent.
• Antihistamines are the most effective treatment for curing cold urticaria.
• Medications like –
1 nondrowsy antihistamine
2 omalizumab
• Epinephrine
Frequently asked questions –
Answer – cold urticaria become worst during the damp and windy weather time.
Answer – temperature below 20° Celsius Triggers CU.
Answer – yes , it is very rare and affects only 0.05% of the total population.
Answer – no , CU is not at all contagious
Answer- cold urticaria if left untreated can give birth direct fatal diseases.
Answer – Benadryl , Allegra , xylol , Zyrtec , Claritin are some of the best and effective antihistamine for curing cold urticaria.
