How to manage hives, and can they frequently recur in people exposed to ragweed?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have hives from the ragweed everywhere in my yard. The onset was about 27 hours ago. At first, I thought I had bug bites, but then more kept appearing as time went on. And there are no centers in the swellings where the bite would have occurred. Got it right after pulling and mowing it. Seems to be going away after 24 hours, the welts are lessening, and the itching is decreasing. I need to continue working on getting rid of the ragweed. I was not allergic to ragweed until the last couple of years when it was just hay fever symptoms.

Will hives recur? When? Does it occur every day that I work on the weed? Or am I kind of "vaccinated" now so that maybe not again until next year (hopefully not)?

I did not work on it today. I just rested. Ragweed pollen can be blown in from two miles away, and everyone in this town has a superabundance of it after all the monsoons. So I cannot avoid the pollen even after it is all gone from my yard. I want to know what my future is.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I thoroughly read your queries and understand your concern.

Hives due to external factors are kind of easy to manage because the culprit is known. In your case, the best treatment here is avoiding contact with ragweed completely. Hives are because of urticaria that develops as a result of exposure to the allergen. Once you develop an allergy to this ragweed, your body remembers the allergen and manifests symptoms soon after you come in contact with ragweed. Antihistamines like Desloratidine with Montelukast are suggested, and they will be helpful in preventing the hives, take this tablet before an anticipated exposure to the ragweed.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards.