Allergic to water?!
Written by- Sahar Naqvi
Aquagenic Urticaria
Thousands have lived without love, not one without water as told by the wise W. H. Auden. However, this world still surprises us with the most odd things. One such thing is the Aquagenic Urticaria more commonly referred to as the water allergy. Yes, you heard it right the WATER allergy.
What is Aquagenic Urticaria?
Only around 50 occurrences of aquagenic urticaria, a kind of physical urticaria, have been recorded in the medical literature. Shelley and Rawnsley were the first to describe it in 1964. Wheals appear when a patient's skin comes into touch with any sort of water within 30 minutes of exposure and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours after the exposure has ended. The trunk and upper limbs are the most prevalent sites for aquagenic urticaria. Pruritus and an unpleasant prickling or burning sensation are occasionally connected with it.
Symptoms:
Aquagenic urticaria hives are small (1-3 mm), red or skin-colored welts (called wheals) with well defined edges. Although it can appear anywhere on the body, the rash most usually appears on the neck, upper trunk, and arms. Itching is a problem for some people. The rash usually fades in 30 to 60 minutes after the water source is removed.
Possible Causes:
The specific cause of aquagenic urticaria is not well understood. Scientists, on the other hand, have presented the following theories:
· An immunological response is triggered when a chemical dissolved in water reaches the skin. According to this view, the hives are produced by an allergen in the water rather than by water itself.
· Hives are caused by a reaction between water and a chemical present in or on the skin, which produces a poisonous compound.
Inheritance:
The majority of cases of aquagenic urticaria appear to be sporadic in people who have no family history of the condition. However, there have been multiple reports of familial cases, with one describing the sickness in three generations of a single family. Other disorders, some of which can be family, have been reported in association with some familial cases. In other words, the aquagenic urticaria family members also had another possible inherited medical issue. However, no unique inheritance pattern has been firmly linked to aquagenic urticaria to our knowledge.
Diagnosis:
The presence of specific signs and symptoms usually leads to a diagnosis of aquagenic urticaria. To confirm the diagnosis, a "water challenge test" may be ordered. A compress of 35°C water is applied to the upper body for 30 minutes during this test. Because other regions of the body, such as the legs, are less usually impacted, the upper body is chosen as the preferred site for the test. It is critical to inform the patient that antihistamines should be avoided for many days before to the test. Rinsing specific regions of the body with water or offering a direct bath and shower challenge has been attempted in some case reports. When the typical water challenge test with a tiny water compress is negative, additional tests may be necessary, but they should be avoided in individuals with a history of significant symptoms.
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