Hives and Angioedema
- Hives and Angioedema Overview
- Hives and Angioedema Causes
- Hives and Angioedema Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Hives and Angioedema Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Pictures of Skin Problems - Slideshow

- Related hives articles:
Hives - on WebMD
Hives - on MedicineNet - Viewer Comments: Hives - Describe Your Experience
Hives and Angioedema Overview
Hives is an allergic skin reaction that comes on suddenly. The hives themselves are slightly raised, smooth, flat-topped bumps called wheals (look like mosquito bites) and welts that are usually more red in color than the surrounding skin and cause severe itching.
Angioedema is like hives, only the welts are larger and form at a deeper layer in the skin. This causes severe swelling, usually in the face, near the eyes and mouth. The swelling can also occur in the inside of the throat, which is a dangerous situation because it can close off the passage of air into the lungs.
Hives and angioedema can occur together, but they usually do not. Hives is the most common rash for which people seek emergency medical care. One of every 5 people will have hives at some time in their lives. Angioedema is less common. Hives and angioedema can happen at any age.
Medical professionals refer to hives as urticaria.
This article does not refer to an uncommon and more serious condition, hereditary angioedema. Hereditary angioedema involves swelling over the entire body, including some internal organs.
Next: Hives and Angioedema Causes »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Hives - Describe Your Experience
Please describe your experience with hives.
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Allergies & Asthma
Improve treatments & prevent attacks.
From WebMD
Allergies Resources
- Get WebMD Pollen Alerts on Your Phone
- 6 Places Germs Lurk in Your Home
- What's Best: Pills or Nasal Sprays?
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Angioedema »
Angioedema is a subcutaneous extension of urticaria, resulting in deep swelling within subcutaneous sites.
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds


