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Urticaria also known as “hives”, is a skin rash that is caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to the body’s heat. Cholinergic Urticaria on the other hand is a subcategory of urticaria. The physical stimulus that brought about the hypersensitivity reaction is known to be heat but the precipitating cause is actually the body’s sweat.
Cholinergic Urticaria usually begins at 10-30 years of age and affects both men and women but is more common to men than women.
Cholinergic Urticaria Causes
As mentioned above, the rise/increase in the body’s temperature causing body sweat is the cause of the rash in Cholinergic Urticaria. Although there are other factors that can trigger its appearance such as Exercise (Exercise induced urticaria), Fever, emotional stress, Spicy foods, occlusive dressings and hot baths and shower.
Cholinergic Urticaria Symptoms
Itching, burning, warmth, tingling sensation and irritation are the first symptoms. It can develop within a few minutes from the body’s rise in temperature although it can take a little longer about an hour or so for the rash to appear.
The hives that is caused about by Cholinergic Urticaria appears a multitude amount of small wheals with flares surrounding it. These visible hives are often called as heat bumps.
The rash usually appears on the trunk and arm but it can also affect other parts of the body. It rarely occurs on the palms and the axilla. The rash worse with constrictive clothing as it limits the ability of the skin to cool itself from the heat. Aside from the clothing, areas with waist bands, areas for wrist watch and tight collars also restricts the cooling ability of the skin thus pressure urticaria occurs.
Other signs and symptoms typical of the rash includes tiny weal joining together and forming an even large swelling, systemic symptoms such as salivation, headaches, fainting, shortness of breath (SOB), wheezing, palpitations and even diarrhea.
Cholinergic Urticaria Pictures
Image source :hivescauses.com
Cholinergic Urticaria Treatment
Since the causes of Cholinergic Urticaria have been identified as mentioned above, the best way to treat the condition is to simply avoid the situations or conditions triggering it. Although, sweating is very difficult to control due to climate change it is much better to cool off to prevent occurrence of the condition.
Wearing light clothing or cotton made clothing also helps with the itching sensation and allows the body to remain cool. Often times, the onset of the attack can be felt as it is coming, it can be halt by rapidly cooling off such as by applying ice pack on the skin to reduce the heat.
Pharmacological treatments are also available for Cholinergic Urticaria. Antihistamines such as hydroxyzine can be helpful. Danazol, an anabolic steroid is used to treat severe cases in this condition although its use is limited because of it to cause severe side effects.
References
http://dermatology.about.com/cs/hives/a/cholurt.htm
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1049978-overview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholinergic_urticaria
