My 21 months old son started developing hives on the 19th of August. It started very mildly in the front and the back and then within a day or two spread all over his upper elbows, thigh, front and back. He did not get the rashes on his face but he used to scratch his head all the time. He used to itch terribly, did not have a good sleep, will get up in the middle of the night and start scratching and wouldn’t sleep for the next one or two hours.
Our pediatrician told us that it could be viral or any food allergy or something he picked from the environment.
We were kind of clueless considering that we just moved to our current apartment on the 16th of August and he went to day care for the first time for like 3 hrs on the 19th of August and then was out playing in playground for over two hours. The playground had a lot of grass and mud. He never had any food allergy before but we started noticing his diet very closely.
The rashes kind of started drying out in 10 days but again last Saturday in the evening, it looked like he was getting new rashes. He never went out anywhere the whole of Saturday. He did not go to the daycare from 20th of August till 27th of August. He went again on the Friday, the 28th. So I started thinking that it could be his diet. I also had the feeling that he was not liking his current carton of milk. I usually only buy horizon organic or organic valley ( HEB store brand ) milk. So I switched to a regular store brand milk.
The rashes were bumpy before and I it has smoothened out but his skin has darkened wherever he had the rashes. His whole skin in the front and back looks so sad. But again every other day the dark color of the rashes turns to reddish color like its flaring back. I am doing mad trying to be an investigator. And I am so tired of seeing him like this.
Has anyone gone through something like this. How long did your little ones have the hives and what was the final conclusion as to why they got it.
Can anyone pick something from whatever I have said since I feel like I am brain dead.
Any help is sincerely appreciated.
Thanks
Update - I couldn't figure out how to reply to all the posts so I am updating my original post. First of all, I sincerely thank everyone of you moms for taking the time to reply to my post and share your experiences.
We took my son to a dermatologist just to be sure that we are not overlooking something else. Also, we switched from CeraVe lotion to CeraVe Cream and have been using it liberally. All of his rashes have cleared up and the darkness is slowly changing to normal skin color.
I have a couple of food suspects in my mind. I hope that that is not true. But either way, I think I dont have the energy to reintroduce those foods now. Probably after one month. I am maintaining a food diary and was secretly wishing that a virus should have caused these rashes so that I will not have to worry about them again. But a doctor friend of ours who visited us recently told me that a viral rash generally stays for a week and usually is like red spots all over his body and doesn't become bumpy. So I am again thinking it is food related and will wait and figure it out.
Also, I have taken homeopathy medicines when I was a kid and they worked very well for me. As one other mom suggested, we also took him to a homeopathy doctor in Houston and got him some pills. He is finished with them. So I am hoping that we dont have to face this issue again.
Again, thank you all ladies for your support. It really meant a lot to me.
if were thinking its food allergies he definatly needs to be tested to find out what foods. our son has allergies ( air born) and recently his new allergy meds made his face brake out with a rash. go see your pedi again and say we need to fix this. if he acts like its no big deal get a second opnion. good luck. sorry your little one has a rash. hope hes not too uncomfortable.
You've received some great advise so far. My advice is to find a pediatric allergist or dermatologist and have him seen by a specialist.
My son and I both have super sensitive skin, and I've had my share of hives. You can give him a bath in luke warm water with baking soda, or an oatmeal bath. This will help ease the itching and helps moisturize the skin to dry up the rash.
If there are no medications or prescription creams, I would suggest to use a mild lotion like Eucerin, Lubriderm or Aveeno. Make sure to moisturize after bath and often during the day. This will help the itch and dry the rash.
I hope you find the cause soon, poor little guy!!
I just wanted to bring a point to your attention. YEARS ago, I moved into a two bedroom apartment with a roommate. I, too, kept breaking out in a rash/hives/itchy eyes/etc. Not for the fact that I was friends with a gal in the apartment's office, I found out that the lady that lived in that unit before us had 3 or 4 cats. I am HIGHLY allergic to cat hair/dander.
They had to steam clean the carpet a couple of times before my symptoms went away. I also didnt "roll around" on the carpet either. We all know that two year olds LIVE on the floor!!! Mine does anyway!!!
I hope you find the answer to your riddle!!!
(and I hope your kiddo feels better soon!!)
Margaret :)
Hi A.,
Bless his heart. He must be miserable. There are a couple of things that come to my mind- there is something in the apt he is allergic to and it could be the carpet or new paint on the walls. try to chart everything he eats and every place he goes and compare to the rash onset.
Have you changed your laundry detergent or any household cleaners- this could be one cause- or it could be the cleaning/disenfectants used at the daycare- ask what they use to clean with-
here are some solutions to ease his discomfort. bath him in oatmeal bathwater- this relieves some of the itching- use benedryl cremes to help during the day. use at nitetime so he can sleep......
also, baking soda helps with itching- use as body powder before bedtime.
If you feel it could be alergies from foods then have him tested as soon as allowable- and if you think it could be from the chemicals or toxins in your household cleaning or laundry items PM me and I will send you to a link where you can get research results on different products.
good luck and blessings
I used to have a home daycare when my children were little. One of my daycare kids came down with hives on his torso. It was red raised bumps. It turned out to be Roseola. You may want to visit the doctor.
I feel for you. It is hard to see that kind of thing on your child.
My #1 never had hives until she was almost 3yrs old. Then she started having hives and terrible headaches. I took pictures and showed them to the doc since the rashes/hives wouldn't look near as bad when I took her in. He said it was likely food allergies as the rashes came and went withing hours.
We did a food elimination diet. My body is somewhat sensitive to corn and red 40. My husband is slightly lactose sensitive. So I started with those three: corn, artificial food dyes and cow dairy. Of the three, corn was the hardest of the three because it's in all processed foods, and not always listed as "corn" or "corn derived". If you're interested, I can send you a list of corn ingredients that don't say "corn". Just let me know.
Rashes and headaches completely disappeared, and didn't come back, about 4dys after eliminating these things.
HTH
K., mama to
Catherine, 5yrs
Samuel, 2yrs
Baby due really soon
It could be stress!! The two new chamges in his life. And it could also be the carpet in your new apartment?? Those are two things that used to give me hives as a little kid.
Dear A.,
When my son was one (now 7) he started breaking out in hives. His were not on his face just mainly on his back and belly some of which were about 8in. in diameter. He also would get the darkened spots when the bumps would go down kind of like it would leave a scar, but it would eventually go away. This lasted for about three months then disappeared. When he turned 4 it came back so we had him allergy tested and found out he was allergic to chicken, strawberries, tomatoes,( all of which are his favorite foods)& seasonal things . After being tested we really started watching what he ate and now that he is older we have started shots for the seasonal stuff and he is about 95% better. I hope you find an answer soon. Good Luck!
S.
A.,
I'm wondering if it is something at the day care. Both times on the 19th and on the 28th he was at the day care. Both times that is when he got his rash. Have you had the Dr. ck to see if it is Scabies or something to that effect. Maybe he is sleeping at the daycare in a blanket there that he is allergic to (like the washing soap). Maybe you should consider a new day care. Both my daughters get rashes, and when they do I get the Big container of oatmeal ($1.75) and a $1.00 pack of knee highs, i put the oatmeal in the knee high and let them play with it in the bath water.. HUGE DIFFERENCE. Don't pay the money for the aveeno, just do it this ck way and don't wash it off when he gets out, just pat dry.
God Bless.
Margaret had a good suggestion, find out if the previous owner had any pets.. Make sure that the air conditioning filter has been changed.
Have you changed any detergents, fabric softeners, body wash, shampoos? Think very carefully about all types of things your child comes in contact with...
This is includes you and your husband. Holding your child he can have contact with all sorts of things, colognes, powders, sunscreen dish detergent, cleansers....Things you do not use for your child...
In your car, did you have it cleaned? Was air freshener used in it? Were the carpets cleaned?
Easiest way to figure it out if it's food related is to document what is eaten when (times & dates) on a daily basis and when the rash develops. Since it's possible that it could be environmental, document events outside the home also.
You have my sympathy. I went through the same thing when my son was 3. We finally figured out, through documentation, that his mystery rashes always occured after a rain. We live at the bottom of the "hill" (more of a gradual incline) on our street. Pesticides being sprayed on yards up top were washing down into our yard when it rained. Only way to fix it was to toss him in the tub and scrub him down thoroughly after he played outside for a while.
My son went through something similar, but he even got the hives on his face! I wanted to cry! and like you, I was the constant investigator checking his every move and just waiting for something to pop up that would give me a hint as to what was causing these frightful breakouts. Benadryl helped to calm the future breakouts. If I started to see him breakout again I gave him some. We are still not a 100% sure as to what caused it, but we believe it was the Poinsetta plant in my mom's house (this was during Christmas time). We got rid of the plant and it hasn't happened since. You may need to go in for an allergy test. I have heard that they are a bit painful, but it might be necessary if the hives keep returning. Good luck on your journey and God Bless!
I don't know much about shingles, but could it be that? I've had a nurse tell me there has been in increase in shingles since the chicken pox vaccine came out.
Are you sure that it's hives? It sounds like the poison ivy I had this summer. Years ago, my son picked up scabies while working in the yard. It kind of looked like what you're describing, too. It might be worth a trip to a dermatologist...Good luck!
Hello A.
I am sorry to hear about the agony that your little one is going through .
Maybe your little one can not tolerate the Casein in the milk.I have a six year old , and Casein turns his GI issues into absolute misery. Therefore he is not allowed any Casein in his diet .
My little one had horrible hives after an allergic reaction to antibiotics, all the pediatrician could do for him is prescribe him more potent antehistamines.
Being fed up of just shoving med's down his throat , with no results , I decided to visit a health store .
They owner saw me walking in holding my son , and immediately commented that these were hives caused by a bad allergic reaction. He gave me Hyland's Homeathic Pills against "Hives" to give my son orally, and had me put "Bachs" original flower essence Rescue Cream on my son .
I mean my little guy was covered in Bumps and a horrible rash from head to toe , he was in absolute agony.
To make a long story short , after one day of giving him the natural remedies, the hives started to clear up . I continued putting the rescue cream on and giving him the tabs for a good 5 day's , just to make sure ...... It was like somebody waved a magic wand over him .It worked for us , and hopefully it will work for you . That experience gave me a whole new perspective of looking deeper into Homeopathic remedies, which so many practitioners are clueless about .
Best of luck to you
