Pruritus Urticaria

Pruritus is a Latin word that literally means itch. Pruritus Urticaria is triggered by an unpleasant sensation, which causes the desire or reflex to scratch certain parts of the skin. If scratched viciously, rashes may outbreak on the skin, which may remain for some time and cause pain.

Itch has been classified as a type of sensory experience. Recently, modern science has shown that itch is similar to pain in many ways. While itch and pain are unpleasant sensory experiences, their behavioral response patterns are different. Furthermore, itch can originate in the peripheral nervous system or in the central nervous system.

Sometimes, pruritus urticaria has a connection to Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP), which is an uncommon, chronic, hives-like skin rash that strikes some women during  pregnancy. During this disease, urticarial papulars, which are solid elevations of skin with no visible fluid inside, outbreak. Their size may vary from the size of a pinhead to rashes large enough to cover a major portion of the body. Their color can be brown, purple, pink, or red. The patient should avoid scratching them as this could cause infection. General pruritus may complicate pregnancy.

One of the most common types of pruritus urticaria is aquagenic pruritus, which is characterized by the development of stern, prickling-like epidermal itching that is without observable skin lesions. It is usually provoked by contact with water.

Though there has been much progress in the pharmaceutical industry and there are many advanced drugs available for urticaria treatment, herbal treatment is still the first choice for most patients.

As your body is going through many chemical changes during pregnancy, abnormalities like pruritric urticaria are no surprise. However, you should take care when dealing with it, as it can affect your life as well as your baby's life. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your doctor for proper treatment.