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Hives can be caused by a number of things. It can be a reaction to the piece of food you ate, the new medication you took, or irritants in the air you breathe, among other causes. Urticaria was named in the 18th century for its resemblance to the rash caused by nettle, a plant of the genus Urtica. That genus name reflects the Latin word for "nettle" and is also related to the Latin verb urere, meaning "to burn." (It's easy to see the connection here if you know that many species of nettle have stinging hairs that irritate the skin.)
Examples of urticaria in a Sentence
Laura Schober, Health, 27 Dec. 2024
Chronic hives Chronic hives are also known as chronic spontaneous urticaria.
—Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 20 Nov. 2024
Yep, Trump was buzzing about Harris having hives, which is basically what urticaria is.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024
Potential Aid for Chronic Hives Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is the medical term for chronic hives, which can last for more than six weeks.
—Johna Burdeos, Health, 30 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Urticaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urticaria. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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