[mrzlynettemillz]

This is the first time I have broke out like this it start on my arms then my thighs and then back ,now my face ugh it itches like hell right now what should I do any idea's

I have tries putting acholol bit it didn't really help :/

[smoothy]

What did you eat today? Nuts, Shellfish, gotten stung or bitten by an insect? That sounds like an allergic reaction to something. If it gets any worse or doesn't get any better soon go immediately to an emergency room.

If the reaction gets severe enough it can result in Anaphylactic Shock.

Not something to be taken lightly. Speaking as someone who has suffered that more than once in his life.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/sever...article_em.htm

[DrBill100]

This is the first time I have broke out like this it start on my arms then my thighs and then back ,now my face ugh it itches like hell right now what should I do any idea's

I have tries putting acholol bit it didn't really help :/

In addition to the excellent advice from Smoothy be alert for swelling of the lips, tongue or difficulty swallowing.

There are prescription medications available to clear up the reaction, regardless of cause, and to relieve the itching in particular. But those require a trip to the doctor or ER.

[wauya]

Acute urticaria majority are due to allergic reaction due to food or other,but small group are due to other cause such as virus infection,temperature change,stress,exersice.ussally not last for 6 weeks.If last longer then 6 weeks will belong to chronic urticaria cause some time unknown or due to autoimmune disease.If your case due to allergic cause ist find out what you allergic to then avoid it.majority case respons for antihistamin tab you can buy from otc such benadryl tab 25mg po every 6 hours.For the rash can try to use corticosteriod cream.This answer may be too late ether you already recover or need professional care.

[smoothy]

Acute urticaria majority are due to allergic reaction due to food or other,but small group are due to other cause such as virus infection,temperature change,stress,exersice.ussally not last for 6 weeks.If last longer then 6 weeks will belong to chronic urticaria cause some time unknown or due to autoimmune disease.If your case due to allergic cause ist find out what you allergic to then avoid it.majority case respons for antihistamin tab you can buy from otc such benadryl tab 25mg po every 6 hours.For the rash can try to use corticosteriod cream.This answer may be too late ether you already recover or need profesional care.

You can't possibly diagnose or prescribe a treatment plan for something this potentially life threatening over the internet. ANY symptoms such as these require immediate medical treatment or at least diagnosis.

Hives to that degree is not a small scale allergic reaction and can rapidly escalate to full blown anaphylactic shock in as little as minutes if they were unlucky enough to have a reaction that tipped the scale that far beyond a minor reaction. And I personally have experience a rapid escalation of such after a very slow start over an hour to one that started spreading to the point I was completely, and I do mean completely full blown reaction in 10 minutes by the time I was able to get to a doctor. I was starting to have difficulty breathing at that point and the normal round a treatments did not help, it took a second round that put my blood pressure to over 250 and might have caused a stroke in anyone older or worse shape than I was at the time... where I was 16 and in prime shape, and still the doctor never left my side until not only the swelling went down, but my blood pressure returned to a safe number. In my case it was 10 minutes and 7 miles to the closest doctor, had my next door neighbor not been a Registered nurse that recognized my symptoms, I would not have survived waiting for an ambulance to arrive. This was 34 years ago the first time.

In my case it was a first time reaction to wasp venom, but can easily be to a food allergy just as well. Peanuts and shellfish are the most common, but hardly the only ones.

[wauya]

Majority of allergic reaction and develop rash are not emergency case.The person who has time to ask this question already prove it.If the condition of the asker as Smoothy say he already died from respiratory failure due to edema of his throat and can not ask the question.Sure any allergic reaction could be very serious and fatal if not treat at time.Here we give answer just for help some commen medical problems with our best judgement.If smoothy you are a health care provider how many case anaphylactic shock you saw.Do you know that this a first time reaction of the asker and chance of anaphylactic shock is not high.He should watch out the second time when he contact the same antigent If as you say all allergic reaction could be fatal.Then he should carry the adrenal kit all the time. Because no one can save him in such short time.Is it practical.Use your judgement!

[smoothy]

Majority of allergic reaction and develop rash are not emergency case.The person who has time to ask this question already prove it.If the condition of the asker as Smoothy say he already died from respiratory failure due to edema of his throat and can not ask the question.Sure any allergic reaction could be very serious and fatal if not treat at time.Here we give answer just for help some commen medical problems with our best judgement.If smoothy you are a health care provider how many case anaphylactic shock you saw.Do you know that this a first time reaction of the asker and chance of anaphylactic shock is not high.He should watch out the second time when he contact the same antigent If as you say all allergic reaction could be fatal.Then he should carry the adrenal kit all the time. because no one can save him in such short time.Is it practical.Use your judgement!

If you get more than a few hives on your body that aren't all localized then its way beyond a minor reacton. And with any major reaction the risk of shock is VERY high. The risk of any indiividual walking on the street who never had a reaction might be very low... but once you have actually had one the risk is far from small.

And as I said... the FIRST TIME can be the one that ends it if you don't recognize the symptoms.

The progression can be slow, or it can be lightning fast... or anything in between, I've had ones that took days to progress, and I've had that first one that took an hour to progress to where I was getting hives on my wrists, ankles and waistline... but only 10 more minutes to become a full fledged emergency. I know people that had such quick reactions if they didn't have a kit on them they would not have made it.

Unless you already know you are allergic, you aren't going to be carrying a kit or even have one in your house. Everyone alergic has that first time.

Not every case of severe chest pains are heart attacks either... but you don't automatically assume its not at the first symptoms. You assume the worst and treat it as such until its proven otherwise, because the difference between survival and death can be those first few minutes. And you let a qualified Doctor at a medical facility make that call.

At least that's how they approach it here in the USA where health care isn't rationed. I'll accept that in some countries they may not be as proactive.

And clear judgement is the last thing someone can count on that's having a reaction, or many cases a family menber. Panic is going to be the overwhelming emotion at that point once they are aware of what's happening. At least until they have lived with it for a while... but then they will have the kit and know how to use it by then.

On one aspect I will agree with provisions... not everyone may progress to a full blown reaction... but if you wait until that happens, then it may be too late.

[JudyKayTee]

Majority of allergic reaction and develop rash are not emergency case.The person who has time to ask this question already prove it.If the condition of the asker as Smoothy say he already died from respiratory failure due to edema of his throat and can not ask the question.Sure any allergic reaction could be very serious and fatal if not treat at time.Here we give answer just for help some commen medical problems with our best judgement.If smoothy you are a health care provider how many case anaphylactic shock you saw.Do you know that this a first time reaction of the asker and chance of anaphylactic shock is not high.He should watch out the second time when he contact the same antigent If as you say all allergic reaction could be fatal.Then he should carry the adrenal kit all the time. because no one can save him in such short time.Is it practical.Use your judgement!

I find your "advice" to be flawed. You continue to confront posters with demands for more info ("... how many case anaphylactic shock you saw") which are immaterial, particularly when you are addressing someone with excellent research skills.

I don't know what an adrenal kit is. Do you mean Adrenaline? If so in the US - and a lot of other places - you can't walk into a Pharmacy and buy an "Adrenaline kit" over the counter.

Please don't diagnose on the Internet. Giving suggestions or advice is fine. Diagnosing is not.

You can be exposed to the same trigger many times and have a slight reaction. The next time it can kill you. This is not necessarily a case for "taking a Benadryl."

I realize you have posted you are a health care provider - where, at what level, with what education?

Seems like a fair question because you did question one of the experts about his level of experience.

[wauya]

First respons to the3 suggestion treatment and diagnosis questions.Without diagnosis in mind how can you give suggestions.Even you suggest "go to er asap" in your mind you have some diagnosis.Here is not medical clinic or ER,we don't charge fee and all people answer questions not or prove or show they are qualify and we are not liable legaly for the answer.We just shard our knownlege to help people in good intentions.For smoothy question I quess you nare not work in health care field.Urticaria is a very commen symptoms 20% of population happen in their.Judgeing the serious is not base on your say only and lt is due to histemine release fro cell in the skin triger by antigents or others,most danger is afraid the lesion happen in the thraot and result chocking the air way but the chance is not high.Anaphalacx shock is not just skin reaction is whole bady reaction which suddenly blood vessel dilated and drop drown the bp and shock.As your case doctor will give you adrenline injection your bp high to 25ommg mean you was no mre in shock.Adrenal kit is Epipen is a emergency kit for patient to use by them.Most commen use for bee sting reaction.

[smoothy]

First respons to the3 suggestion treatment and diagnosis questions.Without diagnosis in mind how can you give suggestions.Even you suggest "go to er asap" in your mind you have some diagnosis.Here is not medical clinic or ER,we don't charge fee and all people answer questions not or prove or show they are qualify and we are not liable legaly for the answer.We just shard our knownlege to help people in good intentions.For smoothy question I quess you nare not work in health care field.Urticaria is a very commen symptoms 20% of population happen in their.Judgeing the serious is not base on your say only and lt is due to histemine release fro cell in the skin triger by antigents or others,most danger is afraid the lesion happen in the thraot and result chocking the air way but the chance is not high.Anaphalacx shock is not just skin reaction is whole bady reaction which suddenly blood vessel dilated and drop drown the bp and shock.As your case doctor will give you adrenline injection your bp high to 25ommg mean you was no mre in shock.Adrenal kit is Epipen is a emergency kit for patient to use by them.Most commen use for bee sting reaction.

By the time your throat is swelling if you don't have one of those kits... that require a prescription to buy or if you aren't already at a medical facility of some type... then your survival is completely in the hands of luck... that you will be able to continue breathing until you are. And the OP has stated this was a first time for them, they clearly wouldn't have had such a kit, and odds are one of their neighbors won't either.

Fact is people don't normally just break out in hives without an alergic reaction. And any allergic reaction that has as much of the body covered as the OP stated, very much has the potiential to continue to a life threatening stage.

A few people don't have the benefit of that sort of early warning... some have a throat swelling first.

And I would never, treat such a situation lightly, I would always treat it with the appropriate seriousness.

And its not just me... run into any emergency room in the USA, and the moment you make them aware of an alergic reaction in process, YOU will be seen by a Doctor right then and there, no waiting, no matter how full the room is. Even if you aren't in the middle of a full blown reaction.

I've been into an an Emergency Room a total of three times AFTER the intitial run to a local physicians personal practice. The last time was due to having an alergic reaction to the Wasp Venom Desensitization series I was getting.

No medical person in the USA (Doctor or Nurse) would treat it any differently than I have.

[JudyKayTee]

Out of greenies/helpfuls but agree with Smoothy - I have no idea what other Country we are discussing where you can buy the "pens" over the counter.

My mother almost died of a bee sting. She was stung several times earlier, had a slight reaction. Last time she went into shock almost immediately.

A reaction is nothing to be treated lightly.

[wauya]

Medicine is a practical science.Is not people just writ few book can be a expert.Do you know how big the illness are belong to allergic disease?From hay fever,urticaria,food allergic,allergic dermatitis etc.Allergic disease as its mane are due to hypersensitve from our immue system to a antigent.It could have different degree of reaction,localy or genernally or type(hormal or cellar)urticaria is one type allergic disorder.And believe the reaction are locate only in skin.Acute type are genernal self limited without treatment will disappear within few days.The severity of urticaria are base on how extend how deep or any mucus involve,sever type call angioedema because it could chock up the airway.The danger is not as smoothy say due to anaphylaxic shock(not yet)I guss when he saw a doctor he was not in shock and for his doctor has no choice to use adrenlin to release his edema to easy the chocking.He was never in shock,but if not take care of his respiratory failure then he will develop circulation failure and in shock.In this condition the doctor has no choice but give adrenlin even he is 80 years old with htn.In reality we don't prescripe EPIPEN to genernal urticaria patient unless has histroy of sever reaction.But we give Epipen to bee sting reaction because most of bee sting reaction are sever and genernal type react in skin(may not even show) and due to blood vessel dilate and fluid tranfer out and drop the bp and shock

[smoothy]

Then you are talking a totally different issue than the OP posted about.

They talked about having a large amount of hives on their body, Hives are indicative of an allergic reaction to something. A large amount of hives indicates a more sever allergic reaction.

Allergic reactions of that degree from ANY source... have to be treated as a medical emergency.

That fact is not open for debate or discussion in the USA or Canada. I am sure there are some countries in an attempt to ration treatment and control costs will take risks with the lives of the patients, but here we would consider that medical malpractice.

Any doctor or nurse that would be involved with you that didn't treat it as such... would be held legally liable for malpractice. And if the voluntary lack of treatment resulted in a death or a lasting severe impairment from lack of oxygen... they could be held criminally liable as well.

Most people suffering such an allergic reaction will have such symptoms... but a few won't. And if it is their first episode, have no outward reaction and someone near them when it happens doesn't have a kit on them, many times they die. Only people that have had a previous reaction will have such a kit, and many still don't have one all the time. I didn't for many years because of the requirement for refrigeration at the time I needed it, and the fact of the expiration dates.

And anyone here with such a history is typically prescribed one as this is a LARGE country, and most people don't live a block or two away from a doctor, pharmacy or hospital. An Ambulance would carry such a thing, but the time it takes one to arrive after calling them a person can die in a severe reaction. They are considered to be a first line treatment for people with a known sensitivity. And it only takes ONE severe reaction, not even a life threatening one, to justify it. The next reaction can easily be a severe one.

If it happens to be anything else... you rely on the Physician to make that determination after proper tests are run. You never assume otherwise because as I said... most people with those symptoms are suffering some sort of allergic reaction, and some go systemic and then become life threatening.

I've had Poison Ivy go systemic and require medical treatment several times as well... to the point it actually threatened my life (if left untreated) rather than just being a simple skin irritant. Different situation, different treatments... different symptoms... but shows every type of allergic reaction has the potential to become life threatening in the right conditions.

[wauya]

smoothy I complete understand your point and agree but as I say medicine is a practical sciense,in reality world follow through your advice has different picture.And this only insider will understand.First let me start from recently FDA change the recommendation of PSA test for prostat cancer screening.Because base the data this screening create more harm then benefits to men.One sample as I know;70 years old healthy man one psa test show result was 8(normal lest then 4) refer to urologist repeat test show psa was 10,no choice to did biopsy .First 6 spots not found ca,psa up to 16 develop infection and bleeding start antibiotic(levaquin)unlucky develop irreversible effect broken tendon and be come disable.This poor man suffer depression from begging after konwing has abnormal psa ans suffer pain and finnaly was told to have slow grow prostate ca.If he don't follow the guild line not do psa,most likely live happyly for rest his life and never found to PC.He died fro PC is unlikely.For urticaria,I have two case;65 years old man known of patient of diabetic and htn for years had mild mi few years ago,came with general rash and said sent by his wife he should be treat otherwise will died from chocking.bp180/95 p110 puls oxy normal complants feel mild SOB follow guild line to avoid of mal-p gave adrenline develop VT,call code end up in ccu with possible acute MI.If he not come to er and just atke some antihistomine next his rash could be gone.Other case 20 years old goung lady develop urticaria after outing tall by boy friend should come to er,treat with one dosqage with adrenaline and histamin rash gone discharge with prescription of antihistamine,6 hours later call back rash return.What to do the medicine (adrenline) effect gone she back to 5the stage before the treatment.Ask return again for what?If she not came in and just took otc med.what is the different?Ok this only some story to say medicne is a practical sciense.What is your story?

[smoothy]

I see this from the practical sense. That any doctor in the USA would be required to do...

There is all indications of an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can turn serious very quickly.

If a patient was turned away and told don't worry about it... and 10 miles away the reaction became severe and they died because of asphyxiation, or suffered permanent brain damage as a result. That doctor can and would be held criminally liable, would be sued for medical malpractice, and might even lose their license to practice medicine in that state.

All because of avoiding a very simple and effective treatment.

As I have stated, I am in the USA... we don't avoid an inexpensive treatment to save a few dollars because someone MIGHT not have a full blown reaction, We treat it because that person very well MIGHT after they were denied treatment. With the lawsuits, even if the Doctor wins, will have cost them large amounts of money and time, their malpractice insurance premiums would rise, and they will have this on their record, and if it happened a second time, they likely would be made an example of.

You never stated what country you practice medicine in... I assume you are either a doctor or a medical student.

But the standards of care and treatment will vary by country. Here in the USA we do not have rationed care... though HMO's do come close to that definition. Many of us can expect the best of care when we need it. And to actually get it.

But being treated for an allergic reaction, is not the same as expecting a CAT scan... or a brain biopsy just for having a headache.

The treatment is cheap, and has little risk of complications.

If you go in with a suspected broken arm, you can expect an x-ray and to have it treated and set and put in a cast. Not be questioned if its really broken or not without even an x-ray being taken, and sent on your way.

There are many cases that would call for further tests and diagnostics, such as if the standard treatment for an allergic reaction didn't work, or the symptoms are less specific to a likely cause.

We have a saying... "sometimes things ARE what they appear to be."

[JudyKayTee]

Wauya continues to demand other people's credentials but has been very vocal in not providing his/hers. I would like to know the level of education as well as the medical license and where this person is located. I find some of the medical advice to be confusing and incorrect.

This thread is way off topic and I believe the talking in circles has begun.

PSA and similar tests have absolutely nothing to do with the question.

[wauya]

To Judy,Why you so hostile to me?You don't want to hear different opinion or idea?What credential I can get from here?I am really confuse? I joint this ask just by chance;I advice plumbing question and found this medical QA.MY goal is just try to share my knowledge hopefully could help other people.For medical advice completely up to people accept or not.As you said my advice are confuse or harmful.Fine!I don't feel offend as long as you give your explanation,I may learn something.I don't expose my back ground here because I want to express my idea without burdon by my back ground and I don't want people to believe my advice because my title.I am not make a lot of nosie here,I just want to defend my idea.The psa case associate to the topic or not.I don't blame on your idea.Because people has different level to understand thing.Here may I ask do we need to show off the title before to give advice?Please excuse me my writing: English is only my second language.

[JudyKayTee]

Yes, when you say you do this or you do that in a medical sense the assumption is that you know something about medicine. You are aware of the areas where we disagree. You also demanded Smoothy's credentials, experience. I am asking for yours.

I'm not hostile to you. You have posted off topic, harmful and inaccurate advice. If I am wrong I expect to be corrected and I have been corrected. You should presume the same.

[wauya]

To Judy,Do you suggest any patient with urticaria should be treat as emergency and be seen by a doctor and receive treatment?Let me tell you my experience;I treat or involve to treat urticaria more then 100 cases no one need to be treat as emergency due to throat edema and no one died from it.Many case like my second case treated and send home and back to the pre treat status(same risk level) You can not keep them for long observation until the offensive antigent gone.Any urticaria case as emergency case I don't agree,that is my points.I like to hear other opinions from medical field people.

[JudyKayTee]

Are you reading what I posted? I said it's dangerous to self-medicate and it's dangerous to diagnose over the Internet. I've read your disclaimer about how you can't be sued. Makes me wonder how accurate you think your info is.

I said it's dangerous to recommend Benadryl every X hours (I'm not going to look back to see what you recommended) when you don't know the age or weight of the "patient." Dr.Bill DID respond. This isn't a public poll.

I'm glad no one has died on your watch.

Post whatever you like, whatever you think is correct, as long as it doesn't have the potential to harm anyone.

I have no idea how this thread went from hives to PSA tests - how do you find that to be relevant?