Allergic to Cold? Surely Not

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We had friends to lunch yesterday. Although we exchange letters and cards each Christmas we haven't seen them for years and years. We thoroughly enjoyed their visit and caught up on the news of our family members. We sat and chatted for several hours. And, as mostly happens, I learnt something new. The wife has cold urticaria which is an allergy to cold. I would never have imagined that someone could be allergic to cold. It appears as hives or large red welts. These are usually itchy. The hands and feet sometimes swell and itch as well. For my friend, triggering factors include cold air, cold water or drastic drops in temperature. She rarely goes swimming now and if she does, she limits the amount of time she stays in the water. Her blood pressure drops dramatically and, on one occasion, she has fainted and gone into anaphylactic shock. They have been doing a lot of travelling since they have retired; however trips to Alaska or Antarctica are now out of the question. Do you know anyone who has this condition? Perhaps you have it yourself?