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Hives and Viruses

Sent to Health Experts August 08, 2006 6:05 p.m.

My brother and I share a medical issue that we both just grew to understand better recently. We both occasionally break out in large (1cm in circumference or larger) anti-histamine resistant hives on various part of our body (including on the palm of our hands and soles of our feet) while also experiencing joint pain (I am currently experiencing knee pain and general swelling of my hand where one hive is located). My hives go away on their own after about a month (although the skin at the site of some of my hives will generally slough off followed by the growth of new skin) while my brother's are only resolved after taking steroid pills (I am not privy to the name or dosage of these pills). I have yet to visit a doctor about this recurring problem, but my brother did recently. He was told that the hives, joint pain and swelling are caused by a virus. Since my brother and I share the exact same symptoms, I believe that the underlying cause is also the same. My brother does not recall the name of the virus and that is what I am after. What might this virus be? Is there anything that can be done to control the symptoms other than just waiting it out or taking steroid medication?

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 31

Already Tried:
anti-histamine, calamine lotion

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $15

Answer
August 09, 2006 1:22 a.m. (7 hours and 17 minutes later)

ACCEPTED

There are a number of viruses that are associated with the development of hives.
Herpes Simplex (the virus responsible for cold sores) and Epstein-Barr virus (responsible for Mono) are two of the most common.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=9104539&query_hl=12&itool=pubmed_DocSum
There are a number of other infections that are associated with hives
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=10354011&query_hl=12&itool=pubmed_DocSum

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