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What Are Hives And What Causes Them?

Question: What are hives and what causes them?

Sarbjit Singh Saini, M.D., The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Answer: Hives can best be described as itchy red bumps on the skin. They can occur anywhere on the body and usually they can be related to one of three major causes. Hives can be a manifestation of an infection. In that case, hives are typically short lived, lasting a few weeks. Hives can also been seen as a complication of an allergic reaction.

More Expert Answers From The OnCall+ Allergy Center

And in some cases, hives can continue for weeks and months. In those cases, we do not have an obvious trigger for the hives.

Next: Is It True That I Am Allergic To Foods Because I Have Hives?

Previous: How Can I Prevent Anaphylaxis From Occurring Again?

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