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Cold urticaria/angiodema (allergy to the cold)
Rank: New forum user 
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Hi, newbie says hello.
Just a shot in the dark really, has anyone come across this before and , if so, how did you manage it in the workplace please?
THX
H
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Hubble and welcome...
Only experience I have of managing it was we had 3 guys from an engineering crew who had been diagnosed. Risk assessment + limit exposure and ensure they carried their own epi-pen at all times. Also informed the local first aiders (with patients permission) and carried out awareness training so that they could recognise the signs and symptoms and first response actions...
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Rank: New forum user
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Many thanks Stevedm. 3 guys from one crew? Was the trigger for their condition ever identified?
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Rank: Super forum user
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I dare say you have done a web search however you may find the following link of use in your search for information about causes. http://www.bad.org.uk/Po...nformation%20Leaflets%20(PILs)/Urticaria%20and%20Angioedema%20Update%20Sept%202012%20-%20lay%20reviewed%20May%202012.pdf Hope this helps.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I'm not entirely sure I understand why steve hasdmentioned epi pens. Urticaria just means hives - a sort of rash that develops. It can be bought on by things including the cold and heat. It doesn't cause a potentially fatal reaction to my knowledge.
I'm not sure that you do manage it in the workplace per se. If you suffer it you would just not be able to work in certain conditions - no different than someone sufering hayfever for example. The person concerned would need ot be managing it themselves wiht the assitance of the medical profession if it were to be a chronic condition.
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Rank: Super forum user
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http://www.allergyuk.org.../urticaria-and-angiodemaMy experience is from the remote medical environment...so this would be a requirement to manage it in that work environment.. The epi-pen is in relation to the angiodema predominantly and depends on the severity of the diagnosis.. Like all allergies it is essential just another trigger.. 3 in same crew was just unlucky..
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Rank: Super forum user
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Just to clarify...
Urticaria (a.k.a. nettle rash or hives) covers a range of different skin reactions:
Dermographism
Cold urticaria
Solar urticaria
Aquagenic urticaria
Cholinergic urticaria
Hereditary urticaria
Non-allergic contact urticaria
Allergic contact urticaria - otherwise known as a type I immune response
It is the allergic contact urticaria that can occasionally, and it is rare, cause what are called mast cells to release extremely high levels of histamine such that anaphylaxis (or smooth muscle reaction) develops. This may just result in mild breathlessness, giddiness, nausea, but can in extremel cases lead to difficulty breathing, unconsciousness and death. The immediate treatement should this occur is an adrenaline injection to dampen down the histamine response. Persons suffereing from anaphylaxis are generally issued with at least two epipens so that they (or others should their condition be such that they cannot administer it themselves) and administer the adrenaline.
Latex allergy is a type I immune response to certain proteins contained in the processed natural rubber latex. A few persons with this condition have gone on to develop an anaphylatic reaction.
If you want more on this PM me with your e-mail address.
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