Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Hives.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- When did the hives first appear?
Why: to help determine if acute (minutes to weeks) or chronic (lasting more than 2 months).
- Are you certain that the rash is hives?
Why: the three characteristic features of hives are transient erythema (redness of the skin), transient edema (swelling of the skin) and transient itch. Hives affects the superficial skin (dermis) and occurs anywhere on the body, especially the limbs and trunk; compared to angioedema which affects the deeper layers and also may occur anywhere but especially around the eyes, lips and neck.
- Where on the body are the hives?
Why: may occur anywhere, but especially the limbs and trunk.
- Have you had hives previously?
Why: Hives may be acute recurrent or chronic recurrent.
- Have you any idea what may have caused the hives?
Why: possible causes include allergies (e.g. azo dyes; medications such as penicillin, aspirin and codeine; certain foods such as eggs, fish, cheese, shellfish, fish, nuts, strawberries; certain plants such as nettles), infection (parasites, bacteria, yeasts). systemic lupus erythematosus, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, hepatitis B, pregnancy (last trimester), related to physical stimuli such as heat, cold, sunlight, pressure or sweating. Note:- 80% of cases have unknown causes.
- Past medical history?
Why: e.g. asthma, eczema or hay fever - suggests allergic tendencies.
- Medications?
Why: e.g. aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications , captopril, penicillin.
- Known allergies?
- Family history?
Why: e.g. allergies.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Itch?
Why: is always present with hives.
- Symptoms of angioedema?
Why: e.g. stridor, wheeze, hoarseness of the voice, shortness of breath, swelling of the face.
- Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus?
Why: e.g. peak onset age 20-40, 90% are women, fever, tiredness, butterfly-shaped red rash over face, multiple drug allergies, Raynaud's phenomenon.
- Symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Why: e.g. painless enlargement of lymph nodes (localized or widespread), sweating, itch.
» Next page: Types of Hives
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