Hives - DD Just had a unbelievable case of them!

[Yzma and Kronk]

DD8 Came home from school on Friday looking like she was attacked by bugs, she was itching and scratching and of course it made it worse!. It progressively got worse and by Saturday afternoon she looked like she had a very bad case of measles and chicken pocs combined all over her body! And itch.... She was in agony!
We went to the Doctor and it was definately hives. She was taking Benedryl and having Aveeno baths, lots of water, etc.
Luckily she didn't have any breathing problems or problems with swallowing etc. We think it was caused by a reaction to the dye in rainbow popcicles.

I have seen people break out in a few hives - spots here and there, but she was covered!

DD is home from school today, but feeling much better. It is almost gone (thank goodness!)

Anyone else had this experience? How did you deal with it?
Does it re-occur?

Thanks!

 

[tw1nsmom]

When DD was 1 1/2 she broke out in hives. The Dr. thought she was allergic to something she ate (a little taco meat?)and told us to go home, give her benedryl and be careful of what she ate. The next day was New Years and she woke up completely covered in hives. Where there weren't hives the skin was a faintly blue tint. Called the doctor, told him it was worse and the benedryl didn't seem to be working. He said to give it time and that blueing of the skin wasn't uncommon. The next day DD woke up crying and wouldn't stand in her crib. I looked and her feet were so swolen from hives it was too painful for her to stand. Immediately brought her into the Dr. They ran tests and it turned out she had Mono. The Hives were an allergic reaction to her bodies own antibodies that were fighting the virus. Several days/weeks? later after many difficult doses of prednisone the hives went away. However from that time until she was about 2 1/2 she would break out in hives whenever she had a virus. It seemed to go away and I thought we were finished with it. Last week we all had a bad virus and DD broke out in hives again. So, yes, in some instances they do come back.

 

[melk]

This happened to my dd once after being on penicillin. It was scary (I kept thinking about her airway closing), but it just had to run it's course. We did the oatmeal baths and benadryl. I took her to an allergist and he said he didn't want to put her through any lengthy tests, we'll just assume she is allergic to penicillin, as it seemed like a classic allergic reaction to that.

So she hasn't had a reoccurrence, as she hasn't taken penicillin again.

 

[floridafam]

My DS had a very bad case of hives last summer. We thought it was from some lobster ravioli that touched his plate when we were out to eat.

They just would not go away. I think he had to take prednisone to finally calm them down. We started to worry when he had them near his eyes and then he started saying his throat was itchy.

Just keep an eye on her and keep doing what you are doing.


I hope she feels better soon. Keep us posted.

 

[damo]

If it is a reaction to food dye, then be careful that the medication you are treating the hives with does not contain food dye. Seems like a silly thing but most liquid antihistamines contain red food dye.

 

[Rajah]

Happened to me in September in WDW.

I *still* haven't been able to get rid of them.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I have had unrelenting hives for a few years now-
in my case it's contact allergies.

I was tested and found to be allergic to dirt, dust, cats,
trees, pollen, grass, the list is actually longer than
this....

Treating the hives with allergy medicines, like
benadryl and oatmeal baths, work very well. (I use Zyrtec)
Just make sure it's not something like mono first.
(tw1nsmom)

If it continues,
I would recommend an allergy doctor test for specific reactions.
They test for everthing-it takes a few hours-but well worth
the results.

 

[Talking Hands]

Happens to DD with peanuts. Once was strawberries, another time it was penicillin she had during surgery. Breaks out all over her body. Last time she was in the hospital and I am not sure what they gave her as it was given while still in the OR. She avoids these things now.

 

[CarolA]

Hives can be allergy or immune system driven. I have immune system driven hives. The only problem is figuring out WHAT if anything is wrong with me. So far on this outbreak we have no idea.

Do watch the face and throat area. (Also, I have NEVER turned blue!) I don't normally get mine there, but they can be fatal if they cause swelling that shuts off the breating tubes.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Thanks everyone!

She is much better now that most of the hives are gone.
She had them for just over 48 hours, and luckily no swelling or purple spots.

It was kind of scary seeing this for the first time, and hopefully there won't be a next time!