Cold urticaria presents as which of the following after cold exposure?

• A. Hives or large red welts on the skin
• B. Numbness without rash
• C. Cramping and swelling in joints
• D. Persistent itching without wheal formation

Answer: (A)

Cold urticaria shows up as itchy, raised wheals—hives—on the skin after exposure to cold. This happens because cold triggers mast cells in the skin to release histamine, causing swelling in the superficial layers of the skin and the characteristic red, raised welts. So the best description is hives or large red welts on the skin after cold exposure. The other scenarios don’t fit the typical reaction: numbness without a rash isn’t the pattern of cold-induced urticaria, cramping and joint swelling points more to a joint or inflammatory issue rather than urticaria, and itching without wheal formation wouldn’t reflect the hallmark hive-like lesions of this condition.