Cold Urticaria

Hailey was diagnosed with Acquired Idiopathic Cold Urticaria in October of 2005. There is a genetic form as well, but hers is acquired. She was referred to an allergist/immunologist for Reactive Airway Disease and multiple allergies along with frequent hives. During the normal Q&A at the beginning of any doctor’s appointment it was mentioned that she seemed to get hives from the snow. In fact she was. Cold Urticaria, is in layman terms, an allergy to the cold (cold air, cold water, questionably cold food and beverages). It is a life-threatening, anaphylactic condition. Hailey has had episodes that could be called anaphylactoid or pre-anaphylactic depending on who you talk to, where she was wet (getting out of the bath, or the pool) and was hit with a rush of cold air and had drastic drops in blood pressure. She has many rules when it comes to air temperatures dropping below 40 degrees and water. She can’t swim in outdoor pools, she’s not supposed to go outside at all when it is less than 40 degrees or if there is snow on the ground. She will probably never swim in the ocean and summer rain can be just as dangerous as snow. There is a genetic form, but she has the acquired form, which was most likely “acquired” during a bout with mycoplasma pneumonia in December of 2003. It has been found that mycoplasma pneumonia and mononucleosis (along with other illnesses) change IgE cells in the body causing Cold Urticaria. Despite the fact that Urticaria is actually the medical term for hives, many people and children with Cold Urticaria don’t experience hives at all, they  experience other histamine-based reactions.

At this point there is no cure, Hailey is on two separate antihistamines daily to control symptoms. She is on a very strong and sedating,   prescription  antihistamine, Periactin (cyproheptadine), and takes an adult dose of Claritin (loratadine) daily. She also has an Epi-pen and Benadryl with her at all times just in case.

Hailey has reacted several times, even on her medications and now we even have a “disabled” person placard for our car. They do believe that her condition is completely life-threatening, making us more concerned in a building fire about the sprinklers going off in buildings than the fire itself, on top of other things.

Hailey can’t go outside when it’s cold and she can’t swim in outdoor pools or the ocean.