Patient/caregiver was educated on pathophysiology of hives as follows:
- Hives are swollen, itchy, pale red bumps that occur on the skin in response to exposure to certain allergens/triggers.
- Allergen/trigger sources could be exposure to environmental agents like pollen, temperature changes, chemicals, wasp bite, beestings, allergic foods, medications, and many more and vary from individual to individual.
- Exposure to an allergen/trigger can result in a hypersensitivity or allergic response. A chemical, histamine, is naturally secreted in the body, as a protective response against the exposure to allergen/trigger.
- Secretion of histamine usually leads to dilation of local blood vessels, which allows more blood flow to the site of allergic response. This increased blood flow brings in more oxygen and more protective white blood cells to the site, thus building body’s natural protective response to the allergen. Increased blood flow also helps with clearing the allergen/trigger from the site of allergic response, which helps with reducing the severity of allergy.
- Also, upon dilation of local blood vessels due to histamine, fluid can leak from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues, leading to swollen, itchy, pale red bumps on the skin, which are called hives.
