Hives in the throat: what to know

Typical hives are raised, itchy welts on the skin. A lump, tightness, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, or swelling in the mouth or throat may indicate angioedema or airway involvement rather than a simple skin flare. The cause can include food, medicine, an insect sting, or another exposure, but you should not try to identify it before securing help. Symptoms can progress quickly, even if the skin welts look limited.

If throat symptoms are present now, call local emergency services and state that you may be having a severe allergic reaction. Use a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector immediately if you have one and have been instructed how to use it. Sit or lie safely, avoid eating or drinking, and do not drive yourself. Antihistamines may help skin itching but are not a substitute for emergency treatment of breathing or throat symptoms.

Get emergency help for breathing difficulty, noisy breathing, throat or tongue swelling, faintness, confusion, blue or pale lips, or rapidly worsening symptoms. Even if symptoms improve, obtain urgent medical review because a reaction can return. If there is only a mild skin rash and no throat or breathing symptom, arrange prompt advice if the episode recurs.

Ask what may have triggered the episode, whether you need an adrenaline prescription, how to use it, and which exposures to avoid. Ask when observation or specialist allergy assessment is appropriate.