Hives and Angioedema (cont.)

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will examine you and ask questions about how the hives or angioedema started. Tell him or her about the following:

• Any medicines (prescription and nonprescription) you have been taking even if you stopped them in the past few days
• Any dietary supplement or herbs you take, even if only sometimes, and the last time you took them
• Any new or unusual foods, soaps, detergents, and cosmetics
• Any allergies that you know about
• Any recent illnesses you have had such as sore throat, cough, runny nose, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Any chronic illnesses such as diabetes, liver disease, or kidney disease
• If there is the possibility you are pregnant

If your health care provider cannot tell what triggered your hives or angioedema, he or she may recommend that you see an allergy specialist (allergist). Even using special skin tests, however, it may not be possible to identify the trigger.

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