Causes of Hives, Urticaria, and Angioedema

Chronic medical conditions or an illnesses or allergens can cause chronic hives, and some folks are "cured" by solving things that are wrong with their body. These are a few of the cures I have read about from real people: curing a fungal infection, root canal, latex, whole house water treatment and getting laid off from work. Note the list below includes causes for short term urticaria. If not exposed to the allergen on a daily basis, many causes can be eliminated in the cases of chronic urticaria. 

Known Causes of Urticaria

Infections
Chronic bacterial infections (e.g., sinus, dental, chest, gallbladder, urinary tract, eye), sinusitis, otitis (eyes?), bacterial, dental abscess (bad root canals etc.), Campylobacter enteritis, fungal infections (dermatophytosis, candidiasis (yeast), tinea), viral infections (hepatitis B prodromal reaction, infectious mononucleosis, coxsackie, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, hepatitis), protozoal and helminth infections (intestinal worms, malaria), cholecystitis, pneumonitis, cystitis, vaginitis  and other infections -viral , parasitic, fungal, or bacterial.

Other
Scabies, Helminth, Protozoa 

Diseases
Systemic lupus erythematosus, hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto's disease, carcinomas, lymphomas, rheumatic fever, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (Still’s disease), leukemia, leuko-cytoclastic vasculitis, vasculitis, polycythemia vera (acne urticaria–urticarial papule surmounted by a vesicle),  lymphoma, collagen vascular disease  hepatitis, 

Miscellaneous
Some blood transfusion reactions, serum sickness reaction

Skin Diseases
Urticaria pigmentosa (mastocytosis), dermatitis herpetiformis, pemphigoid, amyloidosis

Physical Stimuli (Physical Urticarias)
Dermographism (writing on skin), pressure urticaria, cholinergic urticaria (heat), exercise-induced anaphylactic syndrome, solar urticaria (sunlight), cold urticaria, heat, vibratory/vibration, water (aquagenic), delayed pressure (e.g., wearing a heavy backpack);

Psychological stimuli
Stress (adrenergic urticaria)

Other
Hereditary angioedema, cholinergic urticaria with progressive nerve deafness, amyloidosis of the kidney, familial cold urticaria, vibratory urticaria

Hormones (Endocrinopathies)
Pregnancy, premenstrual flare-ups (progesterone), Genetic, Autosomal Dominant (All Rare) 
Endocrine (hormonal) changes such as thyroid disease, pregnancy, menopause, and diabetes can precipitate urticaria. http://www.allergynursing.com/questions3/cold_urticaria.html 

Allergens

Foods
Fish, shellfish/seafood, nuts, eggs, chocolate, strawberries, berries, tomatoes, pork, cow’s milk, cheese, wheat, yeast, bananas (latex), grapes, soy, wheat. Some foods contain high levels of histamines: strawberries, tomatoes, shrimp, lobster, cheese, spinach, eggplant.

Food and cosmetic/bath Additives
Many additives end up both in food and bath products.
Salicylates, dyes such as tartrazine, benzoates, penicillin, Aspartame (NutraSweet) probably does not cause hives, Sulfites, Cosmetics, Douches, Ear or eye drops, Insulin, Micenthol (cigarettes, toothpaste, iced tea, hand cream, lozenges, candy), Tartrazine (vitamins, birth control pills, antibiotics, TDC yellow #5), Trichomonas, 
Dyes, Hair spray, Nail polish, Mouthwash, Toothpaste, Perfumes, Hand cream, Soap, Insect repellent 

Nonimmunologic Contact Urticaria
Plants (nettles), animals (caterpillars, jellyfish), medications (cinnamic aldehyde, compound 48/80, dimethyl sulfoxide)

Organic substances: 
preservatives, latex, hymenoptera venom

Immunologic or Uncertain Mechanism Contact Urticaria
Ammonium persulfate used in hair bleaches, chemicals, foods, textiles, wood, saliva, cosmetics, perfumes, bacitracin

Contactants
Wool, Silk, Substance in the occupational environment, Potatoes 

Inhalants
Pollens, mold spores, animal dander, house dust, aerosols, volatile chemicals

Drugs and Chemicals
Penicillin, aspirin, sulfonamides, and drugs that cause a non-immunologic release of histamine (e.g., morphine, codeine, polymyxin, dextran, curare, quinine) Salicylates, Indomethacin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, opiates, cephalosporin, radiocontrast material, penicillin (medication, milk, bleu cheese), sulfonamides, sodium benzoate. Some drugs can cause direct mast cell degranulation such as: opiates, vancomycin (Vancocin), aspirin, radiocontrast media, dextran, muscle relaxants, bile salts, NSAIDs.

References:

http://www.harcourt-international.com/e-books/pdf/740.pdf and Chronic Urticaria by John Oppenheimer, M.D., and Charles Kirkpatrick, M.D.

Oppenheimer, John, and Kirkpatrick, Charles, Chronic Urticaria, Medical Scientific Update, Volume 9, Number 6, June, 1991, National Jewish Medical and Research Center.

Urticaria and Angioedema: A Practical Approach (Drug Treatment chart) American Family Physcian. article describes difference between Iimmunologic and non-immunologic causes with symptoms.

Additional Reading:

Detailed history and laboratory testing for evaluation of chronic urticaria (with or without angioedema) from the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (written for doctors.)

Not yet read

http://www.allergycapital.com.au/Pages/gpurtic.html

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