On the occasion of World Urticaria Day, patients tell with humor and drawings the impact of their disease in everyday life.
Red patches, itching, pimples similar to a nettle sting … At first glance, urticaria is wrong to think of an allergic disease. Therefore, a large majority of patients with urticaria suffer from a late diagnosis. Some patients will have to consult up to 4 specialists before being diagnosed.
“Through the French edition of World Urticaria Day, we wish to provide information on this little-known and underestimated pathology, explains Dr Marc Sapène, president of the Asthma & Allergies association. It is a question of helping patients, of guiding them in the course of care, to obtain an early diagnosis, so that they are better and more quickly directed, diagnosed and treated. “
A disease told in comics
On the occasion of this 2nde edition, the patients as well as their entourage were called to testify on the topic “Urticaria, when it itches, there are days with and days without…” These accounts relate the way of the cross of the patients, the sufferings related to the disease and their quest for therapeutic solutions. Among the many texts received, a jury selected 3 testimonies illustrated by designer Mary Crayon.
With humor, Gib.M describes this disease which appears as quickly as it disappears. “The days with are when your family members are hedgehogs, you can’t stand the slightest touch or touch. Everything is an assault. Illness is an emotional prison. The days without is when you can hug your loved ones, hug them tight or even touch them and nothing happens, just happiness! “
For her, “every day without hives is a victory”. After 10 years of medical wandering, a dermatologist puts a name on his disease. She then understands the influence of stress, her diet, temperature changes on her skin rashes.
“The giant shrimp”
A.Lab is particularly afraid of the cold, especially cold water. To continue to enjoy swimming in the English Channel, she puts on a survival suit. But on vacation in the Canaries, without her shocking gear, she turns into a “giant shrimp”.
Credit: Mary Crayon
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