故事
荨麻疹 · 风团为什么来得快走得也快
荨麻疹是皮肤里的肥大细胞放出组胺,小血管漏出血浆鼓成风团,几小时内此起彼伏。慢性的多数找不到外因;嘴唇舌头肿、喉咙发紧要立即急救。
最后更新:
先读这一段 荨麻疹,就是俗话说的起风团、起风疙瘩:皮肤里的肥大细胞突然放出组胺等物质,一小片血管随之扩张、往外渗出血浆,皮肤就鼓起一块边界清楚、发痒的风团,周围常有一圈红晕。
科普内容,不替代医师诊断或处方;有症状或在服药请咨询医师。
故事路径
第 1 章
荨麻疹是怎么回事
What hives are
荨麻疹,就是俗话说的起风团、起风疙瘩:皮肤里的肥大细胞突然放出组胺等物质,一小片血管随之扩张、往外渗出血浆,皮肤就鼓起一块边界清楚、发痒的风团,周围常有一圈红晕。它来得快、走得也快:单个风团通常 30 分钟到 24 小时就消退,皮肤恢复原样,新的却可能在别处冒出来,所以看上去此起彼伏。
它很常见:按国际指南的估计,约 20% 的人一生中得过急性荨麻疹。病程在 6 周以内叫急性,常跟在一次感冒、某种食物或药物之后,也有约一半找不到原因;超过 6 周叫慢性,其中自己冒出来的那种通常找不到外因,一半以上和免疫系统攻击自己有关。
有一种情况一分钟也不能等:起风团的同时嘴唇、舌头或喉咙肿起来、喉咙发紧、呼吸困难,或者头晕得快要昏倒,可能是严重过敏反应(过敏性休克),立即拨打急救电话,处理办法见什么时候必须急救或就医一章。
它很常见:按国际指南的估计,约 20% 的人一生中得过急性荨麻疹。病程在 6 周以内叫急性,常跟在一次感冒、某种食物或药物之后,也有约一半找不到原因;超过 6 周叫慢性,其中自己冒出来的那种通常找不到外因,一半以上和免疫系统攻击自己有关。
有一种情况一分钟也不能等:起风团的同时嘴唇、舌头或喉咙肿起来、喉咙发紧、呼吸困难,或者头晕得快要昏倒,可能是严重过敏反应(过敏性休克),立即拨打急救电话,处理办法见什么时候必须急救或就医一章。
临床 · 风团和深层肿胀怎么分
国际指南给风团定了三个特征:中间是一块边界清楚、表浅的肿,大小形状不一,周围几乎总有一圈红晕。痒,有时是灼热感。来去匆匆,通常 30 分钟到 24 小时皮肤就恢复原样,不留疤。
同样的反应如果发生在更深的地方,在真皮深层、皮下或黏膜里,就叫血管性水肿:突然出现一片发红或肤色的深层肿胀,感觉多是刺麻、灼热、发紧,有时是疼,而不是痒;它消得也更慢,可以长达 72 小时。约 40% 的荨麻疹病人同时有血管性水肿。
肤色深的人,风团的红色不明显,更容易看到的是一块块鼓起。
荨麻疹和湿疹不是一回事:单个风团一天之内就退干净;湿疹是另一套机制,起点是皮肤屏障锁不住水(见 炎症性皮肤病)。
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第 2 章
风团是怎么鼓起来的
How a wheal rises
肥大细胞分布在皮肤和黏膜里,细胞里装满一颗颗颗粒,表面挂着能牢牢抓住 IgE 抗体的受体。它一被激活就脱颗粒,把组胺,连同血小板活化因子、白三烯、前列腺素一起倒出来。这些物质在皮肤里干三件事:
刺激感觉神经,于是痒。让小血管扩张,于是发红。让紧接在毛细血管后面的小静脉变得容易漏,血浆渗进真皮的上层和中层,于是鼓起风团;渗在更深的真皮下层,就是血管性水肿。
过 4 到 8 小时,它还会再分泌一批炎症因子,可能让炎症加重、皮疹持续得更久。
能拨动这个开关的不止一种东西:过敏原被它表面的 IgE 认出来,是一条路;有些药不经过 IgE 也能引起风团,比如布洛芬这类止痛药,肥大细胞上也还有别的受体(比如一种叫 MRGPRX2 的)。慢性荨麻疹里,开关常常是身体自己造的抗体,见慢性荨麻疹多数找不到外因一章。
刺激感觉神经,于是痒。让小血管扩张,于是发红。让紧接在毛细血管后面的小静脉变得容易漏,血浆渗进真皮的上层和中层,于是鼓起风团;渗在更深的真皮下层,就是血管性水肿。
过 4 到 8 小时,它还会再分泌一批炎症因子,可能让炎症加重、皮疹持续得更久。
能拨动这个开关的不止一种东西:过敏原被它表面的 IgE 认出来,是一条路;有些药不经过 IgE 也能引起风团,比如布洛芬这类止痛药,肥大细胞上也还有别的受体(比如一种叫 MRGPRX2 的)。慢性荨麻疹里,开关常常是身体自己造的抗体,见慢性荨麻疹多数找不到外因一章。
机制 · 抗组胺药挡住的是哪一步
组胺要起作用,得先落到它的 H1 受体上。抗组胺药占住这个受体,让它停在不工作的状态,痒和风团就少了。所以国际指南强推荐:所有类型的荨麻疹,第一步都是第二代抗组胺药;老一代的那种会让人明显犯困、影响开车,指南不推荐把它当首选。这也说明了它管不到哪里。肥大细胞放出的不只有组胺;严重过敏反应时,全身的肥大细胞和嗜碱性粒细胞一起放出这些物质,波及气道和血压。这时抗组胺药作用有限,只能缓解皮肤上的症状,第一线的药是肌肉注射的肾上腺素。所以喉咙发紧、呼吸困难时,别指望吃一片抗过敏药等它好,立即拨打急救电话。
第 3 章
急性荨麻疹的常见导火索
What sets off acute hives
急性荨麻疹(6 周以内)最常见的诱因是药物、食物和病毒感染,此外还有压力、寄生虫感染、虫螫的毒液和接触过敏原。国际指南特别指出,它常跟在一次上呼吸道感染之后出现,比如一次普通感冒,新冠也算在内。
食物:最常见的是牛奶、鸡蛋、花生、坚果、鱼和贝类,走的是 IgE 介导的过敏。药物:青霉素这类是 IgE 介导的;布洛芬、阿司匹林这类,不经过 IgE 也能引起。
但约一半的急性荨麻疹最后找不到原因。因为它会自己好,国际指南建议:急性荨麻疹不做常规检查,问清楚病史就够了;只有怀疑是食物过敏或药物过敏时,才需要做过敏检查来确认。那些找不到原因的急性荨麻疹,最多有 36% 后来转成慢性。
食物:最常见的是牛奶、鸡蛋、花生、坚果、鱼和贝类,走的是 IgE 介导的过敏。药物:青霉素这类是 IgE 介导的;布洛芬、阿司匹林这类,不经过 IgE 也能引起。
但约一半的急性荨麻疹最后找不到原因。因为它会自己好,国际指南建议:急性荨麻疹不做常规检查,问清楚病史就够了;只有怀疑是食物过敏或药物过敏时,才需要做过敏检查来确认。那些找不到原因的急性荨麻疹,最多有 36% 后来转成慢性。
实操 · 怀疑是某样食物或药
如果风团每次都在吃了某样东西或某种药之后不久出现,先记下来:吃了什么、隔了多久、起在哪里,最好拍下照片,就诊时给医生看。过敏科医生可以用皮肤点刺或查血里的特异性 IgE 来确认,结果最好由有经验的医生解读。一旦确认,就要严格避开它,最好拿到一份写清楚怎么避开的说明:再次接触,引起的可能不只是荨麻疹,还可能是严重过敏反应。
反过来,没有这种明确的先后关系时,不必自己去做一大套过敏原筛查:对急性荨麻疹,国际指南建议不做这类常规检查。
第 4 章
慢性荨麻疹多数找不到外因
Chronic hives with no outside cause
风团断断续续超过 6 周,就是慢性荨麻疹。它分两种:一种有明确的触发物,比如冷、抓挠或体温升高,叫诱发型;另一种没有明确的触发物,自己冒出来,叫慢性自发性荨麻疹。按各国医疗系统的数据,任一时刻有慢性荨麻疹的人在 0.1% 到不到 1% 之间,女性至少是男性的两倍,多数在 20 岁以上。
自发型找不到外因,是因为开关在身体里面。国际指南写道,一半以上的慢性自发性荨麻疹由两种自身免疫机制驱动:
自身过敏(I 型):身体造出针对自己蛋白的 IgE 抗体,比如针对,肥大细胞把自己的蛋白当成了过敏原。IIb 型:身体造出 IgG 抗体,直接去抓肥大细胞表面的 IgE 或它的受体,把肥大细胞一次次点着。
有的人两种都有。约 27% 的病人带着抗甲状腺抗体,所以医生常会查甲状腺相关的指标。
自发型找不到外因,是因为开关在身体里面。国际指南写道,一半以上的慢性自发性荨麻疹由两种自身免疫机制驱动:
自身过敏(I 型):身体造出针对自己蛋白的 IgE 抗体,比如针对,肥大细胞把自己的蛋白当成了过敏原。IIb 型:身体造出 IgG 抗体,直接去抓肥大细胞表面的 IgE 或它的受体,把肥大细胞一次次点着。
有的人两种都有。约 27% 的病人带着抗甲状腺抗体,所以医生常会查甲状腺相关的指标。
数字 · 慢性荨麻疹会拖多久
病程长短差别很大。一篇综述汇总的数据是:约一半的人三个月左右自己好,一年内近八成好了;但也有超过一成的人会拖上 5 年或更久。国际指南还提醒,好了之后,隔几个月或几年还可能再发。病程会起伏,所以控制住以后,医生通常每 3 到 6 个月重新评估一次,看还要不要继续用药。
有几样东西会让慢性自发性荨麻疹加重:最多三分之一的病人觉得压力会让它加重;感染也可能让它加重;布洛芬、阿司匹林这类,会让最多四分之一的病人加重。
机制 · 冷、抓、热也能起风团
诱发型荨麻疹的触发物是明确的:碰到它、到了个人的阈值就起,没有它就不起。最常见的是皮肤划痕症:在皮肤上划一下、抓一下,就沿着那道线鼓起来;裤腰、袜口松紧带勒的地方也常起。还有遇冷起的冷荨麻疹、受压起的压力性荨麻疹、受热起的热荨麻疹,以及运动或受热后体温升高引起的胆碱能性荨麻疹。多数诱发型荨麻疹在碰到触发物后 10 分钟内出现,离开后 1 到 3 小时消退。
避开触发物有用,但国际指南提醒,不该为此把生活掐掉:不必因为胆碱能性荨麻疹就完全不运动,也不必因为日光性荨麻疹就不出门。
第 5 章
在家能做的几件事
What you can do at home
风团是肥大细胞放出组胺造成的,所以在家能做的是两件事:少给肥大细胞点火的机会,再把组胺挡在受体外面。
找出你的触发物:记下每次起风团前吃了什么、做了什么、用了什么药,拍下风团的样子。常见的有某些食物、冷、出汗发热(运动、情绪紧张、吃辣)、抓挠和压迫(比如又紧又扎的衣服)、虫咬和感染。找到了就尽量避开。留意止痛药:布洛芬、阿司匹林这类,会让最多四分之一的慢性自发性荨麻疹加重。常吃这类药的人告诉医生,能不能换、换成什么由医生定;因为心脏病在吃阿司匹林的,不要自己停。用对抗组胺药:第二代抗组胺药是所有类型荨麻疹的第一步,可以先问药师。
压力也会让一部分人加重,减压的办法可能有帮助。
找出你的触发物:记下每次起风团前吃了什么、做了什么、用了什么药,拍下风团的样子。常见的有某些食物、冷、出汗发热(运动、情绪紧张、吃辣)、抓挠和压迫(比如又紧又扎的衣服)、虫咬和感染。找到了就尽量避开。留意止痛药:布洛芬、阿司匹林这类,会让最多四分之一的慢性自发性荨麻疹加重。常吃这类药的人告诉医生,能不能换、换成什么由医生定;因为心脏病在吃阿司匹林的,不要自己停。用对抗组胺药:第二代抗组胺药是所有类型荨麻疹的第一步,可以先问药师。
压力也会让一部分人加重,减压的办法可能有帮助。
实操 · 抗组胺药和激素怎么用
问药师时,告诉他你有哪些长期病,因为有些人不一定适合吃抗组胺药;给小孩用也要先问。国际指南推荐的是第二代抗组胺药,它们几乎不让人犯困;老一代的会让人困倦、影响开车,不推荐当首选。慢性荨麻疹的抗组胺药,指南建议每天规律吃,用来防风团,而不是起了才吃。标准剂量控制不住时,医生可能在说明书之外加量,或者换别的治疗;用哪种、吃多少、吃多久,由医生定。
有两样常见的做法不太对路:
涂激素药膏:在很多过敏病里好用,对荨麻疹却没什么用。口服激素:急性荨麻疹或慢性的突然加重时,医生可能开一个短疗程,最长 10 天左右;长期吃副作用大,指南强烈反对。
误区 · 慢性荨麻疹要不要忌口
很多人的第一反应是忌口。可是对慢性自发性荨麻疹,国际指南的结论是:食物过敏很少是它的诱因。一篇加拿大的综述说得更直接:靠排除饮食一样样戒,对它没有帮助。指南只留了一个很窄的口子:少数病人发现某类食物会让病情加重,医生可以安排一段低假性过敏原或低组胺的诊断性饮食,一般 2 到 3 周,用来验证;它不该拖延有效的治疗。指南还专门提醒,组胺不耐受这个说法常被过度诊断,带来不必要的忌口和乱买补剂。
急性荨麻疹不一样:如果确实每次吃某样东西就起,那可能是食物过敏,要确认后严格避开,见急性荨麻疹的常见导火索一章。
第 6 章
什么时候必须急救或就医
When to get emergency or medical help
风团本身多数会自己好。下面这些情况不要等:
立即拨打急救电话(中国大陆是 120),不论身上有没有风团:
嘴唇、嘴里、舌头或喉咙突然肿起来。呼吸很快、喘不上气,或者喘鸣。喉咙发紧、吞咽困难或声音嘶哑。皮肤、嘴唇或舌头发青、发灰或苍白。突然神志不清、昏昏欲睡、头晕或晕倒。孩子软绵绵的、叫不应。
这些是严重过敏反应(过敏性休克)的信号。等救护车时,有医生开的肾上腺素自动注射笔就马上用;躺下,可以抬高双腿,喘不上气就慢慢坐起来;即使觉得好些了,也不要站起来走动。
尽快约医生:风团 2 天还不见好、在扩散,或者反复出现;伴着发烧、浑身不舒服;皮肤下面肿起来;孩子起荨麻疹让你担心。
找时间去看:断断续续超过 6 周。
立即拨打急救电话(中国大陆是 120),不论身上有没有风团:
嘴唇、嘴里、舌头或喉咙突然肿起来。呼吸很快、喘不上气,或者喘鸣。喉咙发紧、吞咽困难或声音嘶哑。皮肤、嘴唇或舌头发青、发灰或苍白。突然神志不清、昏昏欲睡、头晕或晕倒。孩子软绵绵的、叫不应。
这些是严重过敏反应(过敏性休克)的信号。等救护车时,有医生开的肾上腺素自动注射笔就马上用;躺下,可以抬高双腿,喘不上气就慢慢坐起来;即使觉得好些了,也不要站起来走动。
尽快约医生:风团 2 天还不见好、在扩散,或者反复出现;伴着发烧、浑身不舒服;皮肤下面肿起来;孩子起荨麻疹让你担心。
找时间去看:断断续续超过 6 周。
红旗 · 为什么要立即急救
严重过敏反应和荨麻疹用的是同一套机制,只是范围不同:全身的肥大细胞和嗜碱性粒细胞突然一起放出组胺等物质。按世界过敏组织的标准,几分钟到几小时内,皮肤或黏膜出了问题(全身风团、发痒、潮红,或者嘴唇、舌头肿),同时再加上呼吸困难、血压下降,或者剧烈的腹痛、反复呕吐,就很可能是严重过敏反应。它可以致命,而且没法预料会不会继续加重,所以第一线的处理是肌肉注射肾上腺素,抗组胺药只能管皮肤上的症状。还要记住:10% 到 20% 的严重过敏反应身上看不到皮疹,没起风团不等于没事。
发作过一次的人,之后要去看过敏专科,查清原因,学会怎么预防、怎么自救。
红旗 · 没有风团、也不痒的肿
有一类肿胀和荨麻疹长得像,机制却不同:它不是肥大细胞放组胺,主要是另一种叫缓激肽的物质在起作用,检查和处理都和普通荨麻疹很不一样。它的线索是:只有肿,没有风团,也不痒。普利类降压药(ACE 抑制剂):吃这类药的人出现了没有风团的肿胀,要想到它。多数在开始吃药的第一周内出现,但最多三分之一在吃了几个月甚至几年后才来。遗传性血管性水肿:反复发作的肿,没有风团,也不痒。
这类肿胀一旦累及喉咙,可以致命。所以:喉咙、舌头肿或呼吸困难,照样立即拨打急救电话;只要出现过没有风团的肿胀、又正在吃普利类药,尽快告诉医生,换不换药由医生定。
参考文献 · 6
- Zuberbier, T., Ansari, Z. A., Abdul Latiff, A. H., Abuzakouk, M. M., Agcaoili-De Jesus, M. S., et al. (2026). The international guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis and management of urticaria. Allergy, 81(8), 2582-2632. GA2LEN-led GRADE guideline, consensus conference 6 December 2024. Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease defined by a rapid appearance of wheals, angioedema or both; the lifetime prevalence of acute urticaria is estimated to be approximately 20%. A wheal: a sharply circumscribed superficial central swelling almost invariably surrounded by reflex erythema, an itching or sometimes burning sensation, and a fleeting nature, the skin returning to normal usually within 30 min to 24 h. Angioedema: a sudden deep swelling in the lower dermis and subcutis or mucous membranes, with tingling, burning, tightness and sometimes pain rather than itch, resolving more slowly (can take up to 72 h). Acute urticaria lasts 6 weeks or less, chronic more than 6 weeks; spontaneous (no definite eliciting factor) or inducible (a definite subtype-specific trigger such as cold); in most inducible urticarias symptoms appear within 10 min of exposure and resolve within 1-3 h after it stops; CSU episodes may recur after months or years of full remission. Mast cell activation releases mediators such as histamine and platelet-activating factor, responsible for sensory nerve stimulation (pruritus), vasodilatation (erythema) and inflammatory cell chemoattraction; wheals show degranulated mast cells with oedema of the upper and mid dermis and dilated, more permeable postcapillary venules; in angioedema similar changes occur primarily in the lower dermis. Besides the histamine receptor, other mast cell receptors such as MRGPRX2 are involved. In more than 50% of CSU patients the pathophysiology is driven by two autoimmune mechanisms: type I (autoallergy, IgE autoantibodies against autoallergens) and type IIb (mast cell-activating IgG autoantibodies); some patients have both. Acute urticaria frequently follows upper airway infections, including COVID-19, and some cases evolve into CSU. Acute urticaria, being self-limiting, needs no workup beyond a history (recommendation against routine diagnostic measures), except suspected food allergy or drug hypersensitivity, especially to NSAIDs. Drugs cause urticarial reactions via IgE (e.g., penicillin) or non-IgE mechanisms (e.g., NSAIDs); NSAIDs aggravate pre-existing CSU in up to one-fourth of patients, with paracetamol and COX-2 inhibitors considered safer options. Food allergy is rarely a trigger of CSU; diagnostic pseudoallergen- or histamine-low diets may be considered only in selected patients, usually for 2-3 weeks, and should not delay effective treatment; overdiagnosis of histamine intolerance should be avoided. Some CSU patients experience trigger-induced augmentation of wheals or angioedema, among others by stress and infections; up to one-third of CSU patients perceive stress as an aggravating factor. Because severity fluctuates and spontaneous remission may occur at any time, the need for continued drug treatment should be re-evaluated every three to 6 months. Trigger avoidance should be balanced with quality of life (not, for example, stopping all exercise). Strong recommendation: a standard-dosed modern second-generation H1-antihistamine as first-line treatment for all types of urticaria, taken daily rather than on demand in chronic urticaria; H1-antihistamines act as inverse agonists that stabilise the inactive state of the H1 receptor; modern second-generation H1-antihistamines are minimally or nonsedating; recommends against first-generation H1-antihistamines as first-line (sedation, impaired driving, lethal overdoses reported); updosing is off-label. Topical corticosteroids, frequently and successfully used in many allergic diseases, are not useful in urticaria; strongly recommends against prolonged systemic corticosteroids, while a short course of up to 10 days may help in acute urticaria or exacerbations. Anaphylaxis, urticarial vasculitis and bradykinin-mediated angioedema (e.g., with ACE inhibitors, hereditary angioedema) must be distinguished from urticaria (full text PMC13466004; PMID 41649409). 10.1111/all.70210
- Kanani, A., Betschel, S. D., & Warrington, R. (2018). Urticaria and angioedema. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, 14(Suppl 2), 59. Urticaria occurs in 15-25% of people at some point in life; lesions are often transient, resolving within about 24 h without scarring, though some last up to 48 h; about 40% of patients with urticaria also have angioedema. Mast cells, widely distributed in the skin and mucosa, carry high-affinity IgE receptors; their degranulation rapidly releases histamine, leukotrienes and prostaglandins, which cause vasodilation and leakage of plasma in and below the skin, followed by a delayed (4-8 h) secretion of inflammatory cytokines that potentially leads to further inflammation and longer-lasting lesions. Chronic urticaria prevalence is estimated at 0.5-5%, peak onset at 20-40 years, more common in women; in CSU an external trigger usually cannot be identified; in about 45% IgG autoantibodies recognise IgE or the alpha subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor on mast cells and basophils; antithyroid antibodies in about 27%. The most common causes of acute urticaria are medications, foods, viral infections, stress, parasitic infections, insect venom and contact allergens; the predominant foods are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish; in about 50% of acute urticaria the cause is unknown (acute spontaneous urticaria), and up to 36% of these progress to CSU. Dermatographism is the most common physical urticaria (stroking or scratching; tight waistbands and sock elastic); cholinergic urticaria follows a rise in body temperature with exertion or heat. In CSU, NSAIDs, alcohol and opiates should be avoided as they can significantly exacerbate it; food avoidance with elimination diets is not helpful for CSU. Second-generation non-sedating H1-antihistamines are the mainstay of therapy; first-generation antihistamines should be avoided (sedation, cognitive impairment). Hereditary and acquired angioedema present as angioedema without urticaria or itch, and ACE inhibitor angioedema should be suspected in anyone on an ACE inhibitor who develops angioedema without urticaria; bradykinin-mediated angioedema with laryngeal involvement can lead to fatal asphyxiation; up to one-third of ACE inhibitor angioedema occurs months to years after starting the drug (full text PMC6157046; PMID 30263036). 10.1186/s13223-018-0288-z
- NHS. (2024). Hives (page last reviewed 26 April 2024). Hives rashes usually get better within a few days; the main symptom is an itchy rash of raised bumps or patches that can sting or burn, and its colour can be harder to see on brown and black skin. A pharmacist can advise on antihistamines; tell them about any long-term condition; this may not suit young children. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 if hives do not improve after 2 days, you are worried about a child's hives, the rash is spreading, hives keep coming back, you also have a high temperature and feel unwell, or there is swelling under the skin (angioedema). Call 999 if the lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell, breathing is very fast or a struggle, the throat feels tight or swallowing is hard, skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale, you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy, someone faints and cannot be woken, or a child is limp or floppy. Hives occur when a trigger causes high levels of histamine and other chemicals to be released in the skin; triggers include certain foods, contact with plants, animals, chemicals or latex, cold, hot sweaty skin from exercise, emotional stress or spicy food, a medicine, insect bite or sting, scratching or pressing on the skin such as itchy or tight clothing, an infection, an immune system problem, and rarely water or sunlight; finding and avoiding your triggers may help prevent episodes. A GP might prescribe menthol cream, antihistamines or steroid tablets. www.nhs.uk/conditions/hives
- Cardona, V., Ansotegui, I. J., Ebisawa, M., El-Gamal, Y., Fernandez Rivas, M., Fineman, S., Geller, M., Gonzalez-Estrada, A., Greenberger, P. A., Sanchez Borges, M., Senna, G., Sheikh, A., Tanno, L. K., Thong, B. Y., Turner, P. J., & Worm, M. (2020). World Allergy Organization anaphylaxis guidance 2020. World Allergy Organization Journal, 13(10), 100472. Anaphylaxis is a serious systemic hypersensitivity reaction, usually rapid in onset, that may cause death; it results from the sudden release of mediators from mast cells and basophils. It is highly likely when an acute illness (minutes to several hours) involves the skin or mucosa (generalized hives, itch or flushing, swollen lips-tongue-uvula) together with respiratory compromise, reduced blood pressure or end-organ dysfunction, or severe gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., severe crampy abdominal pain, repetitive vomiting); or with acute hypotension, bronchospasm or laryngeal involvement after exposure to a known allergen even without skin signs. Skin signs are absent in 10-20% of reactions. Cofactors include exercise, infections, alcohol and medications. Most reactions are not life-threatening in themselves, but because progression cannot be predicted all anaphylaxis must be treated with intramuscular adrenaline (epinephrine), the first-line treatment; H1-antihistamines have a limited role and can help only cutaneous symptoms; after anaphylaxis patients should be referred to a specialist to assess the cause and be educated on prevention of recurrences and self-management (full text PMC7607509; PMID 33204386). 10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100472
- Sánchez-Borges, M., Ansotegui, I. J., Baiardini, I., Bernstein, J., Canonica, G. W., Ebisawa, M., Gomez, M., Gonzalez-Diaz, S. N., Martin, B., Morais-Almeida, M., & Ortega Martell, J. A. (2021). The challenges of chronic urticaria part 1: Epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, comorbidities, quality of life, and management. World Allergy Organization Journal, 14(6), 100533. Point prevalence of chronic urticaria, from health-system coding in different countries, ranges from 0.1 to less than 1% globally; one-third of patients have both hives and angioedema, 30-40% hives alone and around 10% angioedema alone. The natural history varies widely: around half of patients follow a three-month self-limited course and within a year it resolves in almost 80%, but in more than 10% a duration of 5 years or longer is expected. Females are affected at least twice as often as males, and most patients are over 20. Mechanisms include IgG autoantibodies to FcεRI or IgE on mast cells and basophils (autoimmunity type II) and IgE autoantibodies to self-antigens such as thyroid peroxidase, DNA and IL-24 (autoimmunity type I, autoallergy); histamine, PAF, tryptase, leukotrienes and cytokines from activated skin mast cells cause sensory nerve activation, vasodilatation and plasma extravasation (full text PMC8233382; PMID 34221215). 10.1016/j.waojou.2021.100533
- NHS. (2023). Anaphylaxis (page last reviewed 21 June 2023). A life-threatening allergic reaction that happens very quickly, usually within minutes of contact with something you are allergic to, such as a food, medicine or insect sting. Symptoms include swelling of the throat and tongue, difficulty breathing or breathing very fast, difficulty swallowing, tightness in the throat or a hoarse voice, wheezing, feeling faint, dizzy or fainting, and blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue; there may also be a swollen, raised or itchy rash. Call 999. Use an adrenaline auto-injector if you have one; lie down and raise the legs, or sit up slowly if struggling to breathe; use a second auto-injector if symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes; do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better. Anaphylaxis needs immediate treatment in hospital, usually a stay of around 2 to 12 hours. www.nhs.uk/conditions/anaphylaxis