Aquagenic urticaria

Physical urticaria is classified according to the nature of the eliciting stimulus, i.e., mechanical, thermal or electromagnetic (Table i). Rarely, urticaria has also been reported in association with decompression and with X-ray and argon laser treatment (reviewed in Henz et al. 1997). Cholinergic urticaria is often classified as physical urticaria since an increase in body heat is involved. Aquagenic urticaria is elicited by a chemical rather than a physical stimulus to the skin surface, with the water dissolving a water-soluble... 

The differential diagnosis includes other types of urticaria, particularly dermographic and aquagenic urticaria. The disease should also be distinguished from abortive forms of cold urticaria such as pruritus or prurigo hiemalis (cold itch), cold erythema, cold pruritus and cold panniculitis (Henz et al. 1997). 

Czarnetzki BM, Breetholdt B, Traupe H (1986) Evidence that water acts as a carrier for an epidermal antigen in aquagenic urticaria. J Am Acad Dermatol 15 623-627... 

General Sunburn, aquagenic urticaria, cold urticaria, contact dermatitis (from swimming attire, fishing equipment)... 

Cold-induced urticaria Aquagenic urticaria Contact urticaria to chlorinated water Scratch test with chlorinated swimming pool water (Neering 1977) ... 

Martinez-Escribano JA, Quecedo E, De la Cuadra J, Sanchez-Pedreno P, Aliaga A (1997) Treatment of aquagenic urticaria with PUVA and astemizole. J Am Acad Dermatol 36 118-119 Morgan JM (1983) Dermatoses associated with brominated swimming pools. BMJ 287 913... 

---