Water allergy ! Does it realy exist ?
Posted: 07 May 2012, 19:56
Aquagenic urticaria, also known as water urticaria and aquagenous urticaria, is a rare form of allergy to water. At this rare cases contact with water causes itcing and burning of the skin. Showers may result in severely dry eyes and soreness. At most extreme cases shortness of breath or swelling in the throat can occur when drinking water. The symptoms persist for 10–120 minutes. Allergic reaction may appear even if there is a contact with some other person´s sweat or tears. Tears on one's face can also cause pain. These people must be very cautious when it rains, always carry an umbrella and of course they suffer more if they live in humid environment.
The most recent case reported is that of Michaela Dutton, 23, from UK. She developed the allergy a few days after she gave birth to her son, about 5 years ago. She actually is one of the 30 people around the world (one in 230 million) who are diagnosed with Aquagenic urticaria. She has all the symptoms mentioned above and she can only tolerate Diet Coke. She cannot even eat fruit. To keep herself clean, she has a 10 minute shower once a week gets through with quick wipedowns the rest of the time. One of the things that irritates her most is that she cannot follow a full mother´s routine like drinking water from the same glass, give her child a bath, teach him how to swim or wipe his tears away. She can only hug her son for not more than 10 minutes and when they both are fully dressed. That is why she says that she feels like ‘a prisoner in her own body’.
An urticaria specialist, said that ‘childbirth is an interesting time in terms of urticaria. Some patients get better, others fall ill with the condition at this time.’ The exact triggers for the condition remain a mystery. However many specialists believe that the rashes are caused by histamines -or chemicals- released by mast cells in the skin when skin makes contact with water. Others believe that it could be due to a toxic response when water touches the skin, or to an extreme sensitivity to ions or chloride in the water. .
Diagnosis
Water urticaria is diagnosed by applying tap water and distilled water to the skin and observing the reaction.
Treatment
There is no known treatment for Aquagenic urticaria. Dermatologists recommend staying out of water as much as possible, taking short showers, staying cool, and avoiding rain,others recommend a cream called capsaicin (Zostrix) that is applied to the irritated skin. This is the same treatment used for shingles. Antihistamines are of questionable benefit since histamine is not the causative factor in water urticaria.
The most recent case reported is that of Michaela Dutton, 23, from UK. She developed the allergy a few days after she gave birth to her son, about 5 years ago. She actually is one of the 30 people around the world (one in 230 million) who are diagnosed with Aquagenic urticaria. She has all the symptoms mentioned above and she can only tolerate Diet Coke. She cannot even eat fruit. To keep herself clean, she has a 10 minute shower once a week gets through with quick wipedowns the rest of the time. One of the things that irritates her most is that she cannot follow a full mother´s routine like drinking water from the same glass, give her child a bath, teach him how to swim or wipe his tears away. She can only hug her son for not more than 10 minutes and when they both are fully dressed. That is why she says that she feels like ‘a prisoner in her own body’.
An urticaria specialist, said that ‘childbirth is an interesting time in terms of urticaria. Some patients get better, others fall ill with the condition at this time.’ The exact triggers for the condition remain a mystery. However many specialists believe that the rashes are caused by histamines -or chemicals- released by mast cells in the skin when skin makes contact with water. Others believe that it could be due to a toxic response when water touches the skin, or to an extreme sensitivity to ions or chloride in the water. .
Diagnosis
Water urticaria is diagnosed by applying tap water and distilled water to the skin and observing the reaction.
Treatment
There is no known treatment for Aquagenic urticaria. Dermatologists recommend staying out of water as much as possible, taking short showers, staying cool, and avoiding rain,others recommend a cream called capsaicin (Zostrix) that is applied to the irritated skin. This is the same treatment used for shingles. Antihistamines are of questionable benefit since histamine is not the causative factor in water urticaria.