Almost 70% of the time, cause of a case of hives cannot be clearly determined. But, in your case, it looks like the medication prescribed for your impetigo l could have triggered. Are you allergic to penicillin or salicylates? If yes, you are probably allergic to Augmentin too. A drug can suddenly cause hives even if you have been tolerating the same drug in the past.
The scenario would have been complicated further by you working in a wheat mill. Ingesting wheat is also a very common factor in triggering hives. There are some more food stuffs which have been observed to cause hives in majority of the allergic population. These include Fish, Shellfish, Nuts, Eggs, Chocolates, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Pork, Cow's milk, Cheese, Yeast [can be hidden in baked or fermented foods] & Citrus fruits. Hives can also occur because of certain food additives, food colorants, emulsifiers and stabilizing agents. Always read the food label before consuming a food product. The reaction could have been triggered because of inhaled allergens like pollen, house dust, mold spores & animal dander. If you have a hairy /furry pet at home, that could be the culprit.
Last but not the least, tension and stress usually makes hives worse; so practice relaxation techniques like meditation, listening to music etc.
answered by S S