21-year-old girl is allergic to water: her tongue cuts if she takes a sip, takes a bath every two weeks and is injured by her own tears | the Chronicle

In case of Tessa Hansen-Smith, a 21-year-old American girl, continues to surprise the world. Since she was little, she suffered from rashes in the bath and suffered from contact with water. At the age of ten, they managed to find his diagnosis: he suffers from aquatic urticaria.

From what he said, he saw a tragedy. Whenever he comes in contact with water, he suffers from headaches and fever. He only bathes twice a month to avoid suffering more than necessary. In addition, you cannot go out on a rainy day or enjoy the sea or the swimming pools.

“This condition is very difficult to manage. I am allergic to my own tears, saliva and sweat.”

Tessa said that something as simple as hydration can be an ordeal. When you drink water, small cuts appear on the tongue. And if he cries, his tears leave marks on his skin.

“I suffer from muscle fatigue and nausea. The problem occurs when I drink something with a lot of water, such as fruits and vegetables. Even drinking water can cut my tongue,” Tessa told British media.

And he added: “This condition is very difficult to manage. I am allergic to my own tears, saliva and sweat.”

Despite all the hardships she faces every day, she didn’t hesitate to enroll in college. She attends classes, for which she has special transport that does not make her sweat. And he doesn’t play sports. As part of her treatment, Tessa needs to take nine antihistamine pills a day.

What is aquatic urticaria?

Aquagenic urticaria is a rare condition in which itchy hives (hives) develop quickly after the skin comes in contact with water, regardless of its temperature. It is one of the forms of physical urticaria, in which skin damage is the result of physical stimuli or environmental changes.

Aquagenic urticaria is more common in women, and symptoms often begin around the onset of puberty. They usually occur during bathing or showering, bathing in the sea, sweating and contact with melting snow. The exact cause is not yet known. Due to the rarity of the disease, there is very little data on the effectiveness of individual treatments; however, various drugs and therapies have been used with varying success.

Symptoms of aquatic urticaria

The signs and symptoms of aquatic urticaria develop rapidly after skin contact with water at any temperature

• Small (approx. 1–3 mm), reddish or skin-colored markings (called papules) with clearly defined margins, most often located on the neck, upper trunk and arms, although they can appear anywhere where on the body.
• The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are usually not affected
• Exposure to other liquids such as alcohol or other organic solvents does not cause hives but may increase the reaction to water
• Itching in some cases
• Presence of other forms of physical urticaria in some patients such as cold urticaria or cholinergic urticaria
• Hives disappear when you are no longer exposed to water, usually within 30 to 60 minutes.