HIVES, also known as nettle rash, is a response by the skin to an allergen, something that causes an allergic reaction.

Hives are most common among young children and may be caused by something that has been eaten or has come into contact with the skin.

Those people who develop an instant and dramatic outbreak of hives very soon after eating may find it relatively easy to identify the origin of their problem.

Often, the first attack occurs early in life, perhaps even the first time a child eats the trigger food.

In the future, in order to avoid an allergic reaction, the individual will have to avoid that food, both in its natural state and as a constituent of other prepared foods. For example, if strawberries trigger hives, then there's a good chance yogurt of drinks containing natural strawberry juice will, too.

A person with this food allergy will often give a positive response to a skin or blood test, because measurable chemicals designed to destroy the allergen, known as histamines, are released when he or she comes into contact with the food.

Sometimes, however, the link may be harder to identify. For people who have "chronic uriticaria," skin and blood tests may fail to reveal a response from their immune system, even though they develop a rash that comes and goes without an obvious cause.

These people may be sensitive to foods with a high histamine content. Lowering intake or cutting foods like very ripe cheese, varieties of sausages, sauerkraut or red wine out of their diet may help their condition.

Dietary tips

Because gut bacteria can produce histamines in response to large amounts of starch, reducing your intake of starchy fruit and vegetables may help.

Liver yogurt can help balance the natural bacteria in the gut and consequently make it less likely to respond abnormally.

If you do reduce your consumption of starchy fruit and vegetables, make sure to keep up your vitamin intake with leafy vegetables and salad, and fruit such as blackcurrants, kiwi, oranges and grapefruit.

Caption: Strawberries are another possible cause of nettle rash if a person has eaten them just before breaking out in hives.

Caption: Eating various types of shellfish may also provoke an allergic reaction.

Editor: Donald