Is a Life Without Water Possible? Aquagenic Urticaria: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Aquagenic urticaria (AU) causes itchy rashes upon water contact. This rare condition requires prompt diagnosis and personalized treatment for improved quality of life.
Area Of Science
- Dermatology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background
- Aquagenic urticaria (AU) is a rare physical urticaria.
- Characterized by pruritic skin eruptions triggered by water exposure, regardless of temperature.
- Fewer than 100 cases are documented globally.
Purpose Of The Study
- To present a case of aquagenic urticaria in a pediatric patient.
- To highlight diagnostic methods and management strategies for AU.
Main Methods
- Diagnosis confirmed via the standard wet towel provocation test.
- Case study of a 12-year-old female patient.
Main Results
- The patient developed urticarial eruptions upon water exposure, progressing to reactions from sweat.
- Partial symptom control was achieved with preventive measures and antihistamines.
Conclusions
- Aquagenic urticaria is a rare, chronic condition.
- Prompt diagnosis and tailored management are crucial for improving patient quality of life.
Related Concept Videos
Aquaporins or AQPs are a family of integral membrane proteins whose primary function is to transport water, while some called aquaglyceroporins also transport glycerol. In addition, aquaporins have also been suspected to be involved in transporting volatile substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, across membranes. Such AQPs that act as gas channels are often highly expressed in cells involved in the gaseous exchange, such as red blood cells, epithelial cells, and pulmonary capillaries.
Water balance disorders are medical conditions that occur when there is a deviation from the body's water volume or osmolarity, disrupting normal homeostasis and leading todehydration, hypotonic hydration, hyperhydration, edema, or water intoxication.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body loses fluids (particularly water).
Causes:
The major causes of dehydration include excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and diuresis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms primarily include intense...
The renal tubule is divided into three parts: the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), the Loop of Henle (LOH), and the distal convoluted tubule (DCT).
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT):
The PCT is the initial segment of the renal tubule, extending from the Bowman's capsule that encloses the glomerulus. Its convoluted structure and microvilli-lined cells increase the surface area for reabsorption. The PCT reabsorbs glucose, amino acids, sodium, and water from the filtrate, ensuring essential...
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
In land plants, the uppermost cell layer of a plant leaf, called the epidermis, is coated with a waxy substance called the cuticle. This hydrophobic layer is composed of the polymer cutin and...
Osmolality refers to the number of solute particles per kilogram of solvent in a solution. Plasma osmolality specifically indicates the total number of solute particles per kilogram of water in blood plasma. This value reflects the body's hydration status and is tightly regulated through mechanisms controlling water intake and output. While water consumption is a conscious decision, the body has intrinsic regulatory systems to maintain fluid balance. Dehydration, a state of water deficit...

