What is urticaria? Symptoms and treatment explored as Trump taunts Kamala Harris' history of seasonal allergies
On Monday, October 14, Donald Trump took a hit at Kamala Harris by bringing up her urticaria diagnosis in a tweet that he uploaded on his Social Truth handle. According to Penn Medicine, urticaria is a condition of allergic skin reaction that causes round, red, and often itchy welts on the surface of someone’s skin.
Beyond urticaria, Trump also talked about the other allergic conditions Harris has suffered, in his tweet, including allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis.
The revelation comes after the Republican candidate was accused of his lack of transparency by Harris. According to BBC, Harris also claimed that the former president "doesn't want the American people to see whether or not he's fit to become president".
Earlier in October, Kamala Harris released her medical records, which concluded that the Democratic candidate was in "excellent health" and fit for running the presidency, the news outlet reported.
Urticaria is also called "Chronic Hives"
According to the Mayo Clinic, urticaria is also called Chronic Hives, which is primarily caused when one's body has an allergic reaction to a substance. Under these circumstances, chemicals like histamine are released into their bloodstream, which often results in itching, swelling, and in the case of urticaria, red welts on their skin.
Hives are among the most common allergic reactions observed in people around the world. They're also commonly associated with Hay Fever. Urticaria has a wide range of potential triggers, including animal dander (especially cats), pollen, insect stings and bites, and foods like shellfish, peanuts, eggs, milk, and fish, among other edibles.
Mayo Clinic notes that it can sometimes be triggered by sunlight, heat or cold, vibrations in the body, or pressure on the skin.
The most prominent symptom of urticaria is batches of welts rising anywhere in the skin. These are red, purple, or peach-like in color with clearly defined edges, and can also be accompanied by swelling. Welts can disappear and re-appear within hours, and can also change shape in some cases. However, it is unusual for them to last longer than 48 hours.
In severe cases of urticaria, swelling occurs around the affected person's eyes, cheeks, or lips, called Angioedema. Such swellings, which are quite painful are followed by itching, which again, can be quite intense. If the person is under stress or is working out while having triggered their urticaria, then they're likely to suffer from flares, that are triggered by the heat.
In the non-severe cases of urticaria, welts disappear within a week. However, if they persist for over six weeks, alongside other symptoms, it must be checked by a professional. Urticaria can re-occur frequently, often for months or even years.
Mild cases of urticaria do not require any treatment
According to Penn Medicine, if someone is suffering from a mild case of hives, they'll soon disappear on their own. If they suffer from itching or swelling, they should avoid taking hot showers or baths, and dress in loose clothing to avoid irritating them further.
To help speed the process, they can also opt for over-the-counter prescription medication. Cetrizine, antihistamine, and diphenhydramine are some common allergy medications that work on hives.
Urticaria can be life-threatening when the swelling occurs in a person's throat, as it can restrict their airway, making it difficult for them to breathe. To tackle such a condition, the affected person would require an emergency shot of epinephrine, which a medical professional can administer.
While bringing up Kamala Harris' allergic conditions in his tweet, Donald Trump also deducted that they "impact her functioning" and could be the reason why she struggled to answer the questions asked on 60 Minutes.
Harris is yet to respond to these allegations.