In the past I have written about histamine intolerance[ Mar 2014] being a possible CFS mechanism. I also wrote about Non-histamine probiotics. After that post, there was a 2015 paper on Mast Cell and Autoimmune Diseases (“Mast Cells promote inflammation in the same way like TNF”). In this post, I want to look at what we know about specific bacteria that may cause itching, hives, or to use the medical term , urticaria. Medical opinion is that all of these are due to histamine release, so we are effectively looking at bacteria that can cause histamine to be release from mast cells.

• Helicobacter pylori: A significant and treatable cause of chronic urticaria and angioedema. [2015]
• “Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been shown to be an important cause of common disorders such as urticaria,” [2015] – incidence of mycoplasma infections in CFS populations is much higher than the general population. [Systemic Mycoplasma blood infection in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome].[2004]
• ” Many bacterial infections have been associated with urticaria manifestation, such as Helicobacter pylori, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Mycoplasma pneumonia, Salmonella, Brucella, Mycobacterium leprae, Borrelia, Chlamydia pneumonia, and Yersinia enterocolitica.” [2014]
• Our old “friend” Staphylococcus aureus post[with herbs to address]  is cited in this [2014] paper
• Herpesvirus-associated acute urticaria: an age matched case-control study[2013].
  • Is inherited human herpesvirus 6 the perpetrator behind some cases of chronic fatigue syndrome? [2014]
  • Association of active human herpesvirus-6, -7 and parvovirus b19 infection with clinical outcomes in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. [2012]
  • Serological and virological investigation of the role of the herpesviruses EBV, CMV and HHV-6 in post-infective fatigue syndrome. [2010]
  • Activation of human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. [2006]

Bottom Line

There are many virus and bacteria that are associated with urticaris — which I assume is primarily caused by histamine release. IMHO, Staphylococcus it the preferred one to initially target and there was a pub med reports in 2001 of eradication of Staphylococcus leading to CFS remission. As well as staphylococcus toxoid on FM and CFS resulting in major positive results in 2002.

I have updated my staphylococcus aureus-the-cfs-maintainer post with more herbs and spices that have evidence on PubMed of being effective. One word of caution, some may dump chemicals triggering histamine release when they are killed — so have DAO and anti-histamine handy!