Auckland Allergy Clinic – What’s New April 2011

Welcome to the Auckland Allergy Clinic web site. This section will bring you the latest breaking news in Allergy & Clinical Immunology and also additions we have made to the Clinic in the last month.

The Allergy News information provided on this web site is reviewed and approved by the Allergists at the Auckland Allergy Clinic. The information is sourced from International Medical Journals and Newspapers. These articles are chosen either because they are thought to be particularly good studies, very interesting Allergy News or relevant to New Zealand. The articles may not necessarily be the views of the editor. Where relevant the editor will add his/her comments at the bottom of the review.

These updates are provided for educational, communication and information purposes only.

Previous Newsletters:

September 2010
September 2009

February 2009
July 2008
December 2007
May 2007

December 2006
April 2006
February 2006
May 2005

October 2004
August 2004
March 2004
January 2004

Urticaria – An Update

Vincent St Aubyn Crump FRACP, FRCP (UK) – April, 2011

Urticaria, often caused "hives", is a very mixed group of diseases. All the types (and subtypes) of this disease share the common distinctive skin reaction pattern of urticarial skin lesions and or angioedema. The EAACI / GALEN / EDF / WAO (1) guideline defines urticaria as characterized by the sudden appearance of wheals and /or angioedema.

A wheal consists of 3 typical features:

a central swelling of variable size, almost invariably surrounded by a reflex erythema

associated itching or, sometimes, burning sensation

a fleeting nature, with the skin returning to its normal appearance, usually within 1 – 24 hours

Angioedema is characterized by:

a sudden pronounced swelling of the lower dermis and subcutis

sometimes pain rather than itching

frequent involvement under mucous membranes

resolution that is slower than for wheals and can take up to 72 hours.