HealthInfo Canterbury

Hives (urticaria)

Hives (medical name urticaria) are red raised itchy weals, or bumps, that can appear anywhere on the body. Hives are common and many people get them at some stage in their lives. Most cases resolve without any treatment or tests needed.

Hives can be caused by an allergy to something (for example, a trigger such as seafood, peanuts, or insect stings), but this is not always the case.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• DermNet NZ – Urticaria – an overview

  Detailed information about urticaria (hives), including photos.

• Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy – Urticaria

  Short, basic factsheet about urticaria.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Updated October 2015.

Page reference: 48933

Review key: HIURT-20869