When are hives dangerous?

[shaylyn]

DS5 woke with them covering him from head to toe. Gave him Benadryl, a few hours later they were gone. Sent him on his way to school and noticed he was scratching again. Picked him up 3 hours later and they are back! They are covering about 60% of his body and now cover his 90% of his face, including his eyelids and in his hair (he's scratching his head)

My sister told me that her nephew was put in the hospital for hives last month and to be careful.

Anyone have experience with this? Dh and I have 6 kids and have never dealt with hives before now.

 

[JessicaR]

The benadryl is holding the histamine at bay until it wears off. Be very careful with allergic reactions like this. Get him to the ER or doctor asap. Severe reactions such as this need medical attention.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My DH should reply to you because he has had a case for about 9 months now. He's done a lot of research. Some of it is scary. My DH has been to a regular doctor and an allergist. They still don't know why which is also not unusual. He's had some serious things ruled out, but he is supposed to get a blood test for one more thing.

My DH is taking Zyrtec and that keeps them away. He tried going off the Zyrtec and had hives within 48 hours.

He was also given an Epi Pen just in case his airways ever swelled.

Good luck figuring it out. It's a bit like a puzzle at our house.

 

[shaylyn]

Thanks Jessica, I'm expecting the Dr. to call me back tonight.

I wonder what in the world is causing it! He did have a spot (about 8" round) yesterday but woke today just covered in them!

 

[shaylyn]

My DH should reply to you because he has had a case for about 9 months now. He's done a lot of research. Some of it is scary. My DH has been to a regular doctor and an allergist. They still don't know why which is also not unusual. He's had some serious things ruled out, but he is supposed to get a blood test for one more thing.

My DH is taking Zyrtec and that keeps them away. He tried going off the Zyrtec and had hives within 48 hours.

He was also given an Epi Pen just in case his airways ever swelled.

Good luck figuring it out. It's a bit like a puzzle at our house.

Oh wow, your poor Dh! DS is miserable, I can imagine your Dh is exhausted trying to deal with them.

 

[cassiez76]

i was in 3rd grade when i broke out in hives. all the time...

my mom wanted to buy stock in benadryl the dr's never figured it out and after 3 months it was gone.

every time i'd get the hives, it would be a different pattern, which drove my parents crazy.

knowing all my medical stuff now (psoriasis), i'm sure something in our household was the thing doing it to me.

 

[shaylyn]

My DH should reply to you because he has had a case for about 9 months now. He's done a lot of research. Some of it is scary. My DH has been to a regular doctor and an allergist. They still don't know why which is also not unusual. He's had some serious things ruled out, but he is supposed to get a blood test for one more thing.

My DH is taking Zyrtec and that keeps them away. He tried going off the Zyrtec and had hives within 48 hours.

He was also given an Epi Pen just in case his airways ever swelled.

Good luck figuring it out. It's a bit like a puzzle at our house.

i was in 3rd grade when i broke out in hives. all the time...

my mom wanted to buy stock in benadryl the dr's never figured it out and after 3 months it was gone.

every time i'd get the hives, it would be a different pattern, which drove my parents crazy.

knowing all my medical stuff now (psoriasis), i'm sure something in our household was the thing doing it to me.

Three months!!?? Yikes!

 

[JessicaR]

Thanks Jessica, I'm expecting the Dr. to call me back tonight.

I wonder what in the world is causing it! He did have a spot (about 8" round) yesterday but woke today just covered in them!

Honestly, you may never know what the cause is. It could be because he came in contact with A and B at the same time and that caused a reaction. Could be medication, environmental, food, pets, chemical, etc. The main goal is to stop the reaction. He may need systemic steroids to achieve that.

Hope the doc calls back quickly!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Is he or has he recently been on an antibiotic?

The reason I ask is because my son did this when he was two. He had been on amoxicillin for several days for an ear infection. After about 4 days he broke out in hives all over his body. I rushed him to the Dr and it was a severe reaction to the antibiotic. He can't take anything in the amoxicillin family now, and a few others. They told me next time it could be fatal.

If it were me, I would get him the the ER right now. You really can't mess around with allergic reactions. If it starts to effect his breathing, he could be in serious trouble fast.

 

[shirleyb]

Honestly, you may never know what the cause is. It could be because he came in contact with A and B at the same time and that caused a reaction. Could be medication, environmental, food, pets, chemical, etc. The main goal is to stop the reaction. He may need systemic steroids to achieve that.

Hope the doc calls back quickly!

I've had hives really badly twice in my life. The first time I was a baby and according to my mom they almost killed me, because I was so little. Never knew the cause.

The second time was when I was 16 and they lasted for about 3 weeks. Once again never knew the cause.

Our oldest DS had them twice very badly also. Both times we never knew the cause, but with some steroids from the pediatrician, they went away.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

When my son had his, he looked like a different child. He actually looked like he had been burnt in a fire and was recovering form it. He was puffy too and the hives were raised. They were all over his body but I noticed that they started on his chest & back and bottom. I noticed it when I was changing his diaper. Before long he was completely covered. It was very scary. It also took him a good two or three weeks for them to go away all the way. They faded, but it took forever to not be able to see them anymore. It was really weird.

 

[ElizK]

Is he stressed about something? I tend to break out in hives when I'm very stressed, though they tend to be on my arms and back rather than all over.

Have you changed ANYTHING? soap, laundry detergent/softener, new candle/air freshener, new food/brand, new pet/new pet shampoo?

 

[tigercat]

My dd had to take my dgrdd to the ER last night as she was covered in hives and her face was hugh. Hives can be very scary. They used an epipen on her as well benedryl and steriods. They came home and for a while it was okay and then it started again. They were going nuts trying to figure out what she had touched ect that might include grapefruit. She is really allergic to it. Turned out that my dd had bought a new non allergenic, non perfume non everything laundry detergent. They looked up the ingredients on line and the last ingredient was citrus. They are now rewashing everything in their normal detergent and are hoping that that is the cause and will end her hives.
tigercat

 

[shortbun]

My 15yo got them two weeks ago after he was outside most of the afternoon with a 2yo. He was down close to the grass a lot. I gave him benedryl for the night time, he took cool showers and didn't exert himself for a few days(anytime he'd sweat, they got worse). I talked to the nurse who talked to the pediatrician who said to keep him on benedryl when he couldn't stand it and bring him in if they didn't subside by day 4. Day four he was itching a little but didn't need the benedryl anymore-his decision. He's still itchy when he's excersizing but no hives. He had an allergic reaction to something. I'm guessing your son did too.

 

[disneyismyname]

A long time ago my brother had to go to the ER because he had hives all over him...apparently he was allergic to the sheets he slept in at the hotel (he went to a baseball game)!

 

[RadioNate]

My DH should reply to you because he has had a case for about 9 months now. He's done a lot of research. Some of it is scary. My DH has been to a regular doctor and an allergist. They still don't know why which is also not unusual. He's had some serious things ruled out, but he is supposed to get a blood test for one more thing.

My DH is taking Zyrtec and that keeps them away. He tried going off the Zyrtec and had hives within 48 hours.

He was also given an Epi Pen just in case his airways ever swelled.

Good luck figuring it out. It's a bit like a puzzle at our house.

I had them for 3 years! Daily Zyrtec and the only thing that kept them completely away was predisone (on which I gained 40lbs.) A day or two after I'd taper off they'd be back. The never found the cause. My pregnancy was the ultimate "cure." Won't work for your DH.

Hives aren't always an allergic reaction. Could be a virus. I'd have him checked out if they continue to come back. Write down any environmental changes or recent foods that could have been triggers, they will ask.

He might need a steroid to knock them out completely.

Good luck. I hate hives!