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Urticaria

By Daniel More, MD, About.com

Created: December 11, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Definition: Urticaria is a common skin condition, common known as hives, characterized by the development of itchy, raised red bumps, often in irregular or in "geographic patterns", caused by the release of histamine from mast cells. Urticaria can be due to allergies, infections, stress or auto-immune conditions.
Pronunciation: er-ti-kar-e-a
Also Known As: hives
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