hives - new allergy in a toddler?

[redheadmum]

hi there
.
my Dd is 28 months, never had an allergy up to this point.

A few months ago she developed a very bad nappy rash and then spots on her face which were itchy. I've never been able to satisfactorily get rid of either - tried homeopathy to strong creams.

Last week she came out in hives. When I went to the GP she said it was nettle rash which is connected to either a virus or food allergy. She suspected food allergy, though I can't think of anything she's had that is different from her normal diet.

It started to go away, but the hives have come back again (all down her legs, trunk, arms and face) and she also has an eye infection. Again, she's not had anything to eat that is different from normal. She's well, no fever etc

anyone else had this?? Advice/tips??

[mummylonglegs]

Hello rhm

I think you should post this message on the health board with the title of something like: 'nettle rash?'

You may get more replies there.

But seeing as I'm here anyway ... What do the spots look like? I can check them out in my spot book!

[handlemecarefully]

Is it definitely hives? My ds was wrongly diagnosed as urticaria initially, but later eczema was diagnosed....

[pabla]

I used to get hives aas a child, possibly after eating lots of fruit and tomatoes. I used to only get it in the summer when I probably ate more of those things. I can't remember the exact details but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it can happen if you eat a larger quantity or several different types of things which on their own or in smaller quantities would not cause a problem. For example, if you ate tomatoes followed by kiwifruit, you might get hives whereas you wouldn't if you ate them seperately - hope that makes sense. I think fruit like kiwifruit and strawberries can cause a reaction. i don't know if this is any help in terms of identifying a cause....

[mummylonglegs]

What do hives look like?

[redheadmum]

thanks everyone for the replies

Mummy long legs - ta for the tip, I've posted this message on the health board too (but now got replies on this thread!) The spots red and blotchy, think there is a slight blister looking raised bit in the middle, but there is no pus or anything in them, they don't burst and they don't seem itchy. They look very angry red.

Grumpyfrumpy er...what's piriton?

Handlemecarefully: I went to the doc's last week who said it was nettle rash. Saw the nurse yesterday as Dd was meant to have MMR (incidentally she didn't get it as nurse thought best not to). Nurse confirmed it wasn't chickenpox or measles, and thought it was hives. Can eczema look similar? As my nickname indicates I'm a red head, and so's my Dd so have sensitive skin. I did have eczema ages ago, but not as a child and it seems to be something I've grown out of. Dd has never shown sensitivity up to this point.....

[redheadmum]

just seen the new reply....my Dd loves fruit and also likes tomato based stuff....but can it be something that can come on suddenly?

she's always eaten lots of fruit and tomatoes

[mummylonglegs]

Hi rhm. I just read about hives in my book. It says, roughly:

Also known as nettle rash or hives, urticaria is an intensely itchy, raised rash. In many cases, the cause is not known. The most common cause is an allergic reaction, possibly to a specific food (for instance, fish) a drug, an insect sting or a plant. Acute urticaria lasts betewen 30 mins and several days; chronic urticaria may persist for several months. Both types may recur. Symptoms: smooth, raised white or yellow lumps surrounded by an inflamed area of skin. Extreme itchiness.

I think you said she's not itchy? If you think what a nettle sting feels like then I guess that would be nettle rash?!

[handlemecarefully]

I think eczema can look similar - hence the initial confusion in my son's case.

Day 1 : diagnosis probable allergic reaction
Day 11: on return to doctors "Oh, it's eczema"

I always though eczema was flaky skin (!), but in my son's case his skin is red and angry looking and blotchy (and dry)

[mummylonglegs]

Gotta go now, rhm, see you soon!

[redheadmum]

no she doesn't seem itchy....

seems like there's not much to do except watch and try to connect it with something (food etc) or see if it looks more like eczema

the nurse said to give it till Monday

[ekb]

n, hi!

[mummylonglegs]

How's she doing now rhm? I'd be surprised if it's nettle rash if she's not itchy ...

[redheadmum]

she woke up this morning with what looked like black eyes they were so swollen, and big angry welts all over her body.....it was awful

have given her some piriton (sp?) in the hopes that this will help, though I worry that this is just treating the symptoms and not the cause.

gonna pick her up from the childminder in a minute and see how she's doing.......

[mummylonglegs]

rhm, I think you should take her back to the GP. I guess it could be viral if it's affecting her eyes too, but they should at least be able to give you some drops for her eyes? And she's definitely not itchy? How was she tonight? Poor little soul.

Will get dd to wear a goldfish bowl on her head on Sunday then ...

[souvenir]

Message withdrawn

[redheadmum]

hi there everyone, thanks for the advice so far.....

yep the hives are itchy. Dd has been describing them as sore even when I mimicked itchy -ness. Anyway tonight in the bath she was really upset and scratching away.....

the piriton does seem to be helping some, though it's taking longer than I thought it would to calm it down - this is the 2nd day shes had the full dose.

MLL- my Dd will be wearing paper bag then....

is it worth asking for allergy testing? when I spoke to the GP about it she said no, it was just a question of wait and see, or doing an elimination diet. Am I being naive that it would just be simpler to get her tested?

I'm taking her to an osteopath on Monday for some cranial, apparently that is meant to help.

any other suggestions?

[mummylonglegs]

rhm, dd had some allergy testing ages ago, you might remember. It was more for food than for skin but I guess it's the same kind of test? It's terribly inconclusive to be honest and the 'alternative' methods I've come across so far have also been rather unreliable. I think it might well be caused by a virus and if you give the piriton and maybe use some calamine lotion for the itching it might ease in a few days.

I've decided instead to cover dd in cling film on Sunday so she's got all-over coverage. Don't worry then if she looks a bit shiny. If I haven't got enough to go over myself I'll just use tinfoil.

[redheadmum]

thanks for the advice everyone

the hives have gone down (thanks to the piriton) and will keep an eye out for any connections if they break out again....

[tr]

definately get her allergy tested. your gp says no because allergy clinics are totally underfunded so are busy. you tell her-not her tell you. get your dd tested and find out for certain whats causing this.

[misdee]

redheadmum your child could be atopic like my kids. when they have have allergic reactions afterwards they have atopic shiners (looks like they have been punched in the eyes). dd1 has stuffy nose and suffers from urticaria. she is allergic to a food colouring tartrazine and this can cause reactions similar to what you describe. its found in cheap orange squash.

i hope your dd is feeling better and you have got to the bottom of this reaction.

[Gedi]

Hi - just wanted to find out what happened re: the hives. My 2 year old dd started with a hives rash at the beginning of January and was diagnosed by my GP as having an allergic reaction to either a virus or something she has eaten. She did have a lolly the day before (a yellow one which may have contained tartrazine)but she still has the hives now. Piriton is helping to reduce the severity of the rash but if we miss a dose it's head to toe again. How long can hives brought on by a viral infection last? Thanks