What does CUA mean in BRITISH MEDICINE

Symptoms

The primary symptom of CUA is the presence of hives (urticaria), where red patches appear on the skin that are raised and itchy. This can be accompanied by swelling (angioedema), which usually affects the hands, feet, face, and lips. Some people may experience widespread hives over their body known as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Other common CUA symptoms include nausea and stomach pain, swollen eyes or tongue, difficulty breathing due to airway constriction, chest pains caused by inflammation in the chest wall muscles, fatigue due to lack of sleep from itching/painful welts overnight.

Causes

The cause of CUA is often difficult to identify because it can be triggered by several different things such as foods, medications, environmental allergens like pollen or pet dander, stress, infections or hormones. In approximately 75% of cases there isn't an obvious cause. This type of condition is called idiopathic urticaria (IU). In some cases IU may not require treatment if it resolves itself within 6 weeks but if it persists medical management may be required.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of CUA involves taking a detailed history including evaluating possible triggers as well as performing physical examinations to look for signs of urticaria and angioedema lesions on the skin surface. Blood tests may also help to identify any underlying immune disorders associated with the condition along with general diagnostic tests like CT scans or MRI scans to evaluate internal organs for any abnormalities.

Treatment

Treatment for CUA typically consists of avoiding any known trigger factors plus taking antihistamines or corticosteroids depending on severity levels in order to reduce inflammation and itching sensations caused by histamine release in response to allergens or irritants encountered in everyday life. Additionally phototherapy may also be considered for severe cases where drugs have proven ineffective.