Abstract
Urticaria, also known as hives among people, is a very common disease characterized by erythematous, edematous, itchy, and transient plaques that involve skin and mucous membranes. It can present in acute or chronic forms. This article discusses a case study of a 32-year-old patient suffering from urticaria, along with its successful homeopathic management.
Keywords
Urticaria, Hives, wheals, angioedema, itchy welts, acute urticaria, chronic urticaria, and physical urticaria.
Introduction
Skin diseases are a typical form of infections occurring in people. Skin infections produced in all ages. There are so many types of skin diseases. Skin infection is described by inflammation, redness, itching, and pain. Urticaria is one of the skin disorder in which there is erythematous swelling in skin occurs.[1], [2] This lesion is due to vasodilation of capillaries, small venules, and exudation of fluid into superficial dermis.[1] Urticaria is characterized by the sudden appearance of pruritic wheals.[3], [4]
Urticaria is mainly divided into two types.[5]
Acute urticaria: (symptoms present less than six week)
Chronic urticaria: (symptoms present longer time, more than six week)
Case
A female 32 year old come on 3/02/2025
Presenting complaint : A rash appeared on the hands for 2 years. Sudden onset of the symptoms. Rash appears suddenly and disappears suddenly after 24 hours. Intense itching in initial stages and burning also present, sleep was disturbed with itching mainly at night, appetite decreased. The itching was very much aggravated in winter and sun exposure and after taking sour things which causes intense itching and burning sensation after scratching.
History of presenting complaints : Patient had previously suffered from skin complaint with itchy raised welts on hands since two years for which he consulted a dermatologist and was diagnosed as urticaria. She took allopathic treatment including tablets, capsules and ointment for a long duration which subsided the skin complaint. After a few months, the same complaint arose diffusely over some parts of body for which she again took allopathic treatment. She remained free of complaint for sometime after which it recurred but this time over the body with great severity in itching and burning and discomfort. Being on allopathic treatment for a long time, the patient was very much reluctant to use it anymore. On the advice of her relative, for a permanent solution to the problem, she finally visited our OPD.
Treatment adopted – allopathic
Result – No relief
Past History:- No history of serious and autoimmune Disease.
Physical generals:- Diet : both (Vegetarian diet & non Vegetarian)
Desire : Sweets & sour
Disagrees : Gourd and pumpkin.
Thirst : 2-3 liters/ day.
Tongue : White coating
Taste : No altered taste as mentioned by the patient.
Salivation : Moderate as per patient.
Perspiration : Profuse.
Stool : Irregularly but no complaint.
Urine : Frequent (watery 8-9 times in 24 hrs.)
Bathing : Regularly.
Dwelling place : Well ventilated house with proper sunlight
Appetite : Reduced due to constipation
Thermal : Chilly
Skin : Dry
Sleep : Disturbed due to itching at night (4hrs/day )
Mental general : She is an extroverted person, loves her family, ungrateful, suspicious, Religious person, Hopeful.
Examination :-
BP-130/90mmHg
Pulse: 80beats/min
Temperature: 99°F
Respiration: 16 beats/ min
Abdomen: blotting for constipation
Local examination (Skin)
Inspection:- There are many areas of wheals which are erythematous with raised borders: Irregular, itchy and burning in nature.
Site: commonly on hands.
Number: 10 -12 reddish elevated wheals with well defined edges seen on hands.
Size: Lesions vary from millimeters to large, continuous plaques.
Colour: Wheals are typically pink or white with central pallor, surrounded by erythema pinkish red.
Blanching: Gently press the lesion; urticarial lesions should blanch with pressure.
Duration: Observe the time course of individual wheals, which should be transient, typically appearing and resolving within 24 hours.
Weeping: Present after scratching
Crusting: Not present
Palpation: Tenderness: Not present
Surface texture: Rough
Associated signs: wheals like
Oedema: Present
Elevation: At borders with reddish eruptions
Clinical Diagnosis :- Urticaria
Analysis of the case
After detailed case taking, symptoms were analyzed and evaluated to construct the totality. The following Characteristic mental general symptoms, as well as physical General and particular symptoms were considered for Repertorization.
Personal History:-
The patient is a MBA student belonging to a middle class Hindu family. She is unmarried. She lives with parents. There are no specific worries except her skin complaint which is of a recurring nature.
Family History:-
Father has been suffering from hypertension, mother has a history of hypertension and diabetes. The patient is unmarried. There are no financial issues as such in the family.
Miasmatic Result:– Psoric miasm
Differential Diagnosis:– Atopic dermatitis (eczema), maculopapular drug eruptions, contact dermatitis, insect bites, erythema multiforme, pityriasis rosea.
Repertorial analysis:
After totality of symptoms was formed, repertorization was done by Synthesis repertory software.
Prescription :- 3/2/25 sulphur 200 BD for 1 day
Rubrum met 30 BD for 7 days
Follow up:- 1. Previous complaints decreased, itching decreased, mild redness, no new eruptions.
10/2/25 Sulphur 30 BD for 1day
Rubrum met 30 BD for 7 days
2. No new eruptions, mild itching, redness minute
24/2/25 Sulphur 1M one dose for 1day
Rubrum met 30 BD for 7 days.
3. Patient feeling better now, itching reduced, no redness, relief in constipation and frequent urination.
3/3/25 Phytum 200 1DM for 7 days.
Common Homeopathic Remedies for urticaria :
- Apis mellifica : It is a top-rated medicine for urticaria after the biting of insects. It is indicated for people with sensitive red rosy hue skin. Swelling is oedematous, puffed, painful, sore and delicate swelling. Skin effusion after the sting of insects. Eruptions get aggravated with heat, intense itching.
- Astacus fluviatilis: It is an excellent homeopathic medicine for skin diseases like urticaria. It is well indicated where urticaria is attended with liver complaints. The person complains of itching everywhere in the body, with a marked stinging and burning sensation on the skin.
- Natrum muriaticum: It is a great option for hives after exercise and physical exertion. The eruptions are dry with violent itching and burning. It is suited to constitutions with greasy/oily skin, fever blisters, crusty eruptions in the folds of the limbs, scalp or behind ears. Urticaria or eczema after exposure to skin. The characteristic of the skin is raw, red and inflamed. It also covers diseases of hair follicles, alopecia
- Urtica urens: It is indicated in cases where urticaria appears in the same season, every year. Another key symptom is formication on the skin associated with intense burning shows great results when treated with this particular homeopathic medicine. Urticaria alternates with rheumatic pains in the whole body. Increased allergies after eating shellfish.
- Calcarea fluorica: This homeopathic medicine works wonders in treating urticaria. It is best indicated for suppuration with a callous hard edge, hard raised border of ulcers, chaps, fissures, crack and swellings.
- Graphites:Useful when there is intense itching with oozing of a sticky, honey-like discharge. Skin is often rough and dry.
- Sulphur: It was used in all types of allergic dermatitis with marked itching, want to scratch, burning after scratching worse by heat of bed, recurrent papulo vesicles, erythematous eruptions dry, especially worse from warmth and bathing. Suitable for people with a history of skin complaints.
- Histaminum: Histaminum is a homeopathic remedy derived from histamine, a signaling molecule produced by cells during an allergic response or inflammation. Histamine plays a role in various processes in the body, including regulating immune responses and triggering the symptoms of allergies.
Conclusion : Urticaria is a multifactorial condition with significant impact on patient well-being. Homeopathic management, when based on thorough case-taking and symptom totality, offer effective relief. This case demonstrates successful treatment with Sulphur, emphasizing the need for individualized care.
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Guided by :- Dr. PRAVEEN JAISWAL [HOD And Prof.] Department of Practice of Medicine, Government Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Submitted by :- Dr. PRATIBHA JAT Fellowship in Dermatology, Department of Practice of Medicine, Government Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
