Aquagenic urticaria is considered to be a rare condition but a number of people report in forums to having some sensitivity to water on their skin. Febrile illnesses, usually triggered by viruses, represent the most common cause of urticaria and angioedema. Fulltext pdf treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. What is aquagenic urticaria, and what does it mean to have an allergy to water. Multiple small wheals with surrounding erythema were seen on the right forearm after applying a towel soaked in tap water at body temperature for 5 minutes. The hives and accompanying intense itching typically develop within 2030 minutes after exposure and resolve within 3060 minutes after drying. Very little is known about this illness and it baffles medical. Thus, in essence the reaction is a watercontact sensitivity which we have electedto label aquagenicurticaria.
Nov 04, 2016 you can drink the water, but dont let it get on your skin. Urticaria, physical nord national organization for rare. The skin breaks out with small bumps or welts and splotches of redness with itchiness and pain. The patient will then be put to a water treatment test where water will be applied to the upper body for 30 minutes. Aquagenic urticaria au is a rare form of chronic inducible urticaria elicited by water at any temperature. Aquagenic urticaria should be also distinguished from aquagenic pruritus and aquadynia, in which brief contact with water induce itching and pain without skin lesions. Diagnosis of aquagenic urticaria will begin with an evaluation of the patients clinical history looking for any signs of what might be causing this severe reaction. Dec 10, 2019 aquagenic urticaria is a form of physical urticaria that occurs following a known trigger, which is contact with water in this case. It most commonly affects women and symptoms often start around the onset of puberty. Aquagenic urticaria au is a rare inducible form of physical urticaria, which occurs in response to cutaneous exposure to water.
Aquagenic urticaria genetic and rare diseases information center. Aquagenic urticaria is a rare form of physical urticaria, in which contact with water evokes wheals. Aquagenic urticaria facts and remedies cholinergic. We describe the case of a 25yearold atopic woman who. Aquagenic pruritus is probably common, but it is generally unrecognised and may be misdiagnosed. Aquagenic urticaria in twins world allergy organization.
Jean s mcgee department of dermatology, boston university school of medicine, boston, ma, usa abstract. Aquagenic urticaria or water allergy being allergic to water is a typical form of physical hives that is caused when the person comes in contact with the water. It was subsequently defined as a severe sensitivity to water, manifested by itchy hives breaking out on the exposed skin within minutes. Aquagenic urticaria or water allergycausessymptoms. Have a look at things that other people have done to be happy with aquagenic urticaria world map of aquagenic urticaria view more. A page to help raise awareness of aquagenic urticaria and aquagenic pruritus also known as water urticaria, water allergy and water itch respectively. You can drink the water, but dont let it get on your skin. Aquagenic urticaria known commonly as having a water allergy is an extremely rare condition. Aquagenic urticaria is a rare condition that causes the patient to break out in painful or itchy lesions when exposed to water. Aquagenic keratodermaalso known as aquagenic wrinkling of the palms, aquagenic syringeal keratoderma, and aquagenic palmoplantar keratodermais a rare disorder clinically characterized by transient excessive wrinkling of the palms shortly after immersion in water. Aquagenic urticaria is a very rare and often misunderstood form of physical urticaria its also described sometimes as water urticaria or water allergy. Cold urticaria an icecubefilled plastic bag is applied to the patients forearm for 20 minutes. Aquagenic urticaria au was first described by shelley and rawnsley, who reported three cases in 1964, and fewer than 100 cases have since been published in the literature. Living with aquagenic urticaria can be difficult, but you have to fight to try to be happy.
Aquagenic urticaria au is a rare inducible form of physical urticaria, which occurs in response to cutaneous exposure to water, including sweat and tears. Its a form of physical hives and is associated with itching and burning. Wheals occur when a patients skin makes contact with any type of water within 30 minutes of exposure, and can last for 30 minutes to 2 hours after. For people with aquagenic urticaria, a rainy day or summer pool party can turn into lifedisrupting allergy triggers. I live in the netherlands and i was told that there are only a few people with aquenic urticaria in the world. Aquagenic urticaria is considered to be a form of physical urticaria which is caused by an external irritation. Aquagenic urticaria was first described in 1964 by shelly and rawnsley 2 it most commonly affects women and symptoms often start around the onset of puberty 3. Although there is no real cure for aquagenic urticaria this is perhaps due to the fact that its been difficult to treat it successfully over the years. Although most patients experience sporadic episodes, several case reports of familial disease have been published. It is consistently reproducible by the topical application of tap water, either by cloth or faucet drip, and is similar clinically to the three cases of aquagenic urticaria reported previously by shelley and rawnsley.
Aquagenic urticaria diagnosed by the water provocation test and. Nevertheless, the exact reason for development of this type of skin condition is not wellunderstood. Only 30 individuals all over the world are affected with this rare type of skin condition. Aquagenic urticaria hives is a rare form of physical hives triggered by skin exposure to water regardless of the source, temperature or salinity. Aquagenic urticaria, a type of physical urticaria, is quite rare and only about 50 cases have been reported in the medical literature. Aquagenic urticaria is a rare condition in which urticaria hives develop rapidly after the skin comes in contact with water, regardless of its temperature. Jan 31, 20 aquagenic urticaria is a rare form of urticaria which affects women more commonly than men. It was first described by shelley and rawnsley in 1964. What its like being allergic to water wellness us news. A 19yearold man and a 4yearold boy complained of recurrent episodes of urticaria. Aquagenic urticaria genetic and rare diseases information. Summary of the provocation test of physical urticaria physical urticaria provocation test pressure urticaria a 6,000 gm weight is applied to the skin for 20 minutes. For more information on this disorder, choose physical urticaria as your search term in the rare disease database.
Urticaria is the medical term for hives, an outbreak of raised red bumps or lesions on the body usually in response to an allergen. Antihistamines may induce a good therapeutic response. I take antihistamine 128mg every day, and it prevents most of it. Aquagenic urticaria also known as water allergy is a rare allergic reaction in the form of urticaria that develops soon after the skin contacts with the water. In addition to the patients history, the diagnosis relies on the results of the water provocation test. Mar 12, 2019 aquagenic urticaria or water allergy being allergic to water is a typical form of physical hives that is caused when the person comes in contact with the water. Wheals usually develop within 30 to 60 minutes of contact with water, irrespective of the temperature. The condition appears to be more common in women, and is likely to develop. I would really like to have other medication since this one makes me tired and i have problems concentrating. However there are some common sense steps you can take. But the following can provide relief from the symptoms. Pruritus may occur in the absence of a discrete rash. The hives and accompanying intense itching typically develop within 2030 minutes after exposure. Localized saltdependent aquagenic urticaria, a rare subtype of.
Pdf robert rothbaum, jean s mcgee department of dermatology, boston university school of medicine, boston, ma, usa abstract. It is a rare condition, a form of physical urticaria which usually affects women and occurs for the first time at the age of puberty. I have aquagenic urticaria does any one else allergy. Please use this guide as a resource for knowledge and understanding of aquagenic urticaria symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Aquagenic urticaria is a rare form of urticaria, a type of hives that causes a rash to appear after you touch water. We describe the case of 18 year old twin brothers who presented to our unit with a 3 year history of aquagenic urticaria. Her doctors say she may be the youngest person ever. There are less than 100 known cases recorded in medical literature. The first recorded case of aquagenic urticaria was documented in 1963, when a 15yearold girl broke out in sores after waterskiing. Aquagenic urticaria is not commonly seen in the clinical setting, but it causes obvious discomfort to affected patients. Water allergy, or aquagenic urticaria, is, according to ncbi it is, a rare form of physical urticaria, in which contact with water evokes wheals. Heres what happens when you develop an allergy to water.
Aquagenic urticaria is an itching condition caused by exposure to water. Full text full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Aquagenic urticaria causes, diagnosis, facts and treatment. Home remedies for aquagenic pruritus herbal remedies info. Critical wetting of the sensitive areas of the skin. The exact underlying cause of aquagenic urticaria is currently unknown. This rare form of urticaria usually presents within an hour of contact with water. Links to pubmed are also available for selected references. Aquagenic urticaria is a rare condition in which urticaria hives develop rapidly after the skin comes in contact with water, regardless of its temperature 1. Other common triggers include acute allergic reactions to foods, medications, or insects. Aquagenic urticaria in complete remission after omalizumab. Aquagenic urticaria is the medical term to describe a hivelike rash that develops after exposure to water. Know its causes, symptoms, sigs, tests and treatment. In physical urticaria, hives may start five minutes after exposure and last up to 30 minutes or longer.
In short, this means the sick person cannot touch or drink water at all. A 49yearold white man has a threeyear history of perifollicular, punctate hives on wellcircumscribed areas of the forearms, shoulders, and chest whenever these areas come in contact with water. If they do come into physical contact with water they will experience irritation to. Less than 50 cases of aquagenic urticaria have been reported in the medical literature 2. The process is not related to water temperature, and psychogenic factors appear to have no influence. Aquagenic urticaria au, a form of physical urticaria that occurs with cutaneous exposure to water, including sweat and tears, was first described in the literature in 1964 by shelley and rawnsley. The phenomenon first appeared after the patient had been sprayed in these areas with hydrochloric acid. Water allergy kiana kali harold washington college draft water allergy is one of the rarest diseases in the world. There is a higher prevalence among females, with the typical age of onset during or after puberty 3. The 18monthold, ivy angerman, was recently diagnosed with aquagenic urticaria, or an allergy to water, according to local news station fox 9.
Dec 01, 2017 aquagenic urticaria is a rare form of urticaria, a type of hives that causes a rash to appear after you touch water. For people with aquagenic urticaria, a rainy day or summer pool party can turn into life. Aquagenic pruritus, hello frank, i cut out sugars and sweets totally and increased my salt intake, within the first week i felt a good change, and it continued to slowly improve, and about 3 months later that stinging prickling itch became a thing of the past but if i eat incorrectly it will start to come back, check with your doctor and get started on this plan. Aquagenic urticaria is a rare variant of chronic inducible urticaria that occurs in response to contact with water 1,2. In july, 1963, a 15yearold girl first noted the sudden onset of hives 30 minutes after water skiing. Although there is no known exact treatment for aquagenic urticaria, it can be managed effectively. Aquagenic urticaria is a form of physical urticaria that occurs following a known trigger, which is contact with water in this case. Aquagenic definition of aquagenic by medical dictionary. Treatments avoid prolonged stay in water applying oilbased gel or cream before entering any form of water using filtered shower heads drugs include, but are not limited to. In the case of aquagenic urticaria, the allergy is a physical urticaria, meaning that its effects are seen externally on your skin. Aquagenic urticaria, also known as water allergy and water urticaria, is a rare form of physical urticaria in which hives develop on the skin after contact with water, regardless of its temperature.
Aquagenicurticaria contact sensitivity reaction to water walter b. I have provided a quote from the practice parameters concerning autoantibodies in urticaria pactice parameters chronic urticaria 2014. Ideal sources for wikipedias health content are defined in the guideline wikipedia. In children, acute urticaria is more common than chronic forms. Pronunciation of aquagenic urticaria with 2 audio pronunciations, 1 meaning and more for aquagenic urticaria. Most cases are sporadic but there are a small number of familial cases in the medical literature. The numerous small lesions have been labeled cholinergic urticaria. It is sometimes described as an allergy, although it is not a true histaminereleasing allergic reaction like some other forms of urticaria. Urticaria appeared while taking a bath or a shower, in the rain, or. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 693k, or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Jun 20, 2016 aquagenic urticaria is a rare condition in which urticaria hives develop rapidly after the skin comes in contact with water, regardless of its temperature.
Aug 08, 2017 in the case of aquagenic urticaria, the allergy is a physical urticaria, meaning that its effects are seen externally on your skin as opposed to internally in your body. We described the clinical history of a patient with aquagenic urticaria. Jun 20, 1981 full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Aquagenic urticaria is believed to have a similar mechanism similar to that of cholinergic urticaria. Application of petrolatum prior to swimming is a consideration mcgee. Rawnsley, md, philadelphia for years a distinctive and intensely pruritic form of hives has been noted in certain people as a result of heat, emo tion, or exertion. Those who suffer from the condition may find it difficult to navigate through everyday life. Unfortunately, there is no known aquagenic urticaria cure. Posted jul 30, 2018 by ronja danekilde godtfredsen 2500.