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What is urticaria and angio-oedema?

Urticaria is a common illness affecting up to 20% of people (one in 5 people) at some point in their lives. Urticaria presents with itchy raised skin reactions known as weal’s (also known as hives or a nettle stinging like rash) that may be round or ring-shaped and may join together. The hives come and go within hours. Hives can also appear as raised lines after scratching. They can appear anywhere on the skin. Individual hives typically disappear of their own accord within 24 hours without a trace but can recure days or weeks later in another part of the body. Angio-oedema causes swelling of the lips or mouth and occasionally occurs with urticaria. These swellings often take longer to clear.

The most common form of urticaria is called spontaneous urticaria. Spontaneous urticaria is usually divided into ‘acute’ and ‘chronic’ forms. In ‘acute’ urticaria, the episode lasts up to six weeks. Chronic or long-lasting urticaria lasts for six weeks or more.

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