Answer
Hives are red, itchy, swollen areas of the skin that can arrange in size and appear anywhere on the body. Hives usually itch but they can also burn or sting. People get hives for lots of different reasons. Often the cause is not known. One common reason for getting hives is an allergic reaction. Some common allergic triggers are certain foods (like milk, shellfish, berries and nuts), medications (such as antibiotics) and insect stings or bites. Other causes of hives are not related to allergies and can include:
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Exposure to cold
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Exercise
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Sun exposure
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Nervousness or stress
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Infections caused by viruses
No matter what the cause, a case of hives can last for a few minutes, a few hours or even days.
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