A red, raised, itchy rash that comes suddenly, lasts for some time and then disappears without any trace is the typical history any patient of Urticaria will provide. The rashes may come and go with no apparent trigger at times. They can occur anywhere on the body and have the following features:

Irregular shaped, red, raised rashes - small or large in size

The rashes may have a central clearing

Intensely itchy - may lead to disturbance at work, sleeplessness, irritability, restlessness, impatience, etc.

Burning or stinging pain in the areas of affection

May be surrounded by a red flare

Lasting from few hours to the whole day

The frequency of the rashes is also not fixed - some people experience it once in a while whereas others may get rashes several times daily

Some of the variants of Urticaria that differ in presentation are discussed here:

Cholinergic: triggered by physical exertion or a hot bath or shower, this is marked by hundreds of small itchy bumps. These occur quickly and disappear in the same manner. Cholinergic Urticaria is seen more often in young people.

Dermographism: This literally means 'skin writing'. The hives in this case are produced by direct physical stimulation of the skin such as stroking with a blunt object.

Angioedema: This is a severe variant also known as 'Giant Urticaria'. Large areas of affection are seen and swelling occurs around the eyes, lips, hands, feet, genitalia and inside the throat. When the wind-pipe in involved due to swelling in the throat, it can obstruct breathing and this is a medical emergency (Anaphylactic shock)

Symptoms to watch out for (report to your physician immediately if you experience any of these)

Difficulty in breathing

Dizziness

Tightness in chest, wheezing

Swelling of the lips, tongue, face