Can urticaria be related to ear popping?

during the last few months I have developed urticaria (nettle rash)..also during the last month I experience ear popping..as some sites suggest both of these conditions are commonly caused by an allergy. is that true? what kind of allergy could it be? i used some antistamines (aerius) and a cream which improved my urticaria but still im havent completely overcome it. i am obsessed that i have sth more serious (a blood infection!)..is my obsession just an obsession or should I worry about these two conditions?? please answer using medical evidence. Thanks!!

i also moved from Greece to the UK to study this year..could the climate change play a role in the development of urticaria/ear popping

Just an obsession. The era popping and the rash are not related. Your doctor should give you a prescription for a drug called Atarax. That will take care of the itching and allow the rash to go away. As for the ear popping, it could be sinus-related. If you're still concerned and want piece of mind, have your doctor do some routine bloodwork to rule out infection.

Background: Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a frequent complaint of patients in the ED. It consists of circumscribed areas of raised erythema and edema of the superficial dermis. Urticaria can be acute or chronic, and a variety of urticarial variants exists, such as vasculitic urticaria and anaphylactoid reactions (reactions to intravenous contrast dye). Urticaria is the most benign form of anaphylaxis. It often occurs independently, but it may also be accompanied by the more serious forms of anaphylaxis, angioedema and anaphylactic shock.

By definition, the acute form of urticaria lasts less than 6 weeks, and the chronic form lasts more than 6 weeks. The list of causes is extensive. When a patient presents with acute urticaria within 24 hours of onset, a cause is more likely to be determined. However, in most cases of both acute and chronic urticaria, the cause is not determined, despite extensive investigation. Thus, although the determination of the underlying etiology of urticaria represents a diagnostic challenge, the management of acute urticaria is more straightforward.


Pathophysiology: Urticaria occurs following release of histamine, bradykinin, kallikrein, and other vasoactive substances from mast cells and basophils, resulting in intradermal edema from capillary and venous vasodilation and occasionally from leukocyte infiltration.

Urticaria has 4 major mechanisms. Most commonly, it is a manifestation of acute immunoglobulin E (IgE)鈥搈ediated hypersensitivity with histamine and other vasoactive peptides released from mast calls and basophils. It also may be a result of complement causing direct cell degranulation (mismatched blood). Nonimmunologic urticaria occurs when an exogenous substance results in mast cell degranulation either by direct stimulation of the mast cell or by unknown mechanisms (reaction to intravenous contrast dye). Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause urticaria by a non鈥搈ast cell mechanism, especially in asthmatics. The exact mechanism is unclear. The COX-2 inhibitor NSAIDs do not appear to cause this problem. Finally, some urticarial reactions are idiopathic, with no known mechanism.


Frequency:


In the US: Urticaria affects 15-20% of the general population.
Internationally: The frequency of urticaria internationally is similar to that in the United States.
Mortality/Morbidity: Pruritus (itching) and rash are the primary manifestations of urticaria, and hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation are rare. Acute urticaria is usually self-limited and commonly resolves within 24 hours but may last up to 6 weeks. Chronic urticaria lasts more than 6 weeks. Neither acute nor chronic urticaria results in long-term consequences other than anxiety and depression. The depression can be severe enough to lead to suicide in rare cases.

Sex: Incidence rates for acute urticaria are similar for men and women; chronic urticaria occurs more frequently in women.

Age: Urticaria can occur in any age group, although chronic urticaria is more common in the fourth and fifth decades.




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