Urticaria - taking Piriton but stopped being effective

[Upsidownia]

DS(7) was wheezey and came out in weals last night on his arms, he was covered by this morning (legs, bottom and back). Saw duty nurse who said just keep on giving Piriton. About an hour after the last dose it started coming up in new areas (on his ankles) and isn't going down!

Any suggestions? He can't have any more Piriton 'til 12:15. He's really bothered by it and can't get to sleep.

:-(

[Upsidownia]

bump bump

[Upsidownia]

Anyone?

[Upsidownia]

Just checked on DS, it has got worse since I first posted. Patch on back of ankle now right up back of leg to knee.

What can I do for him?

Is it NHS direct time? Or out of hours dr?

Am on own as DP is away and suffer from anxiety myself.

[Upsidownia]

Anyone??

Am I over worrying here?

[funnyface31]

Can you call the out of hours doctor for advice? Hope things get sorted soon x

[Upsidownia]

Thanks funnyface

I called 111 and spoke to a Dr who basically said we could go to out of hours appt but she didn't think they would have steroids in stock there. We don't have 24hr chemist near here either.

So it's a choice of waiting it out and going to A&E if it gets worse.

Am cross because I asked the duty nurse for steroids to have to hand if needed, because that's what the Dr gave us previously, and he wouldn't.

I really hope I'm making the right choice not to bundle everyone into the car now, and hope he'll be ok til morning.

[funnyface31]

I think in these situations you go with your gut, if you feel you need to take him then go.
Has the next dose helped ? Definitely a visit to GP tomorrow as piriton isn't strong enough.
Hope you have a good night and manage to sleep x

[Upsidownia]

Thanks funny for being there, I really appreciate it. I don't have family nearby and don't want to disturb dp as he's on a really stressful job.

I've just looked in on DS and it seems to have quietened down again, he's asleep at least! He has his inhaler to hand and is good with it, so hopefully all will be well 'til morning. I'll set my alarm to check in again at four and give more piriton if needed. What a PITA.

[funnyface31]

your very welcome x

[funnyface31]

How did your night go Upsi? X

[Upsidownia]

Aw thanks funny.

I got up and gave him more piriton at 4am and again this morning. He's still itchy but no new patches but has needed inhaler. Have spoken to a Dr who is prescribing another antihistamine to take alongside Piriton, with steroids as a back up if no improvement. Steroids clearly aren't great long term but very relieved to have these to hand. Just waiting for script to appear at the chemist, which hopefully will be this afternoon.

Just feeling a bit sad that is seems he might have to stay on the antihistamines all summer, as we think it must be an environmental trigger. We stayed in the area for 6 months previously when it first flared up a few years ago, then moved to the other side of town, where he had no major reaction for 3 years. Now we've moved to a permanent home back in our old area, and it seems he's allergic to something airbourne round here, as it was exactly the same time of year as before.



Thanks for your support though, I just needed to bounce off someone last night and a bit of reassurance went a long way.

[Fatgirlnomore]

My ds became used to antihistamines so we changed them every now and then. There are several different ones you can get.

[goodasitgets]

I take 4 x 10mg cetirizine for cholinergic urticaria, have also been on fexofenadine
Have you been to an urticaria specialist?

[Upsidownia]

He did see an allergy specialist, who basically ruled out food allergy and said it was pointless testing, as could be insect/pollen related, in which case it wouldn't identify anything.

Fingers crossed the new AH will have some effect.

Thanks for the replies.

[funnyface31]

So glad it was a good (ish) night for you and DS. It's great that the doctors have given steroid too.

Hope you can find the source, do you keep the windows closed of a evening? I believe this is the worst time.

[Upsidownia]

at shutting the windows at night. Typically DS is a very warm child, currently needs to sleep under just a duvet cover with windows open and fan on - oh lord. Might have to go down air con route.

[funnyface31]

From about 5pm we havers close when dd is bad. They usually stay shut especially in her bedroom.

[MillionPramMiles]

Piriton is a fairly weak anti-histamine, definitely ask your GP about prescription anti-histamines (I take fexofenidine and even that only helps a little). I also use Betnovate cream (a steroid cream) which obv you don't want to use long term but it really helps with the hives. It can be so uncomfortable, poor boy, hope it improves.

[Upsidownia]

That sounds tough funnyface, I hope we don't need to go down the closed windows route. We're a first floor flat so that will be very hard going for everyone, but if necessary we will.

DS has been prescribed desloratadine once a day, and to stay on it through the summer. Grateful to know other's opinions/experience of this (never heard of it!) but no more flare ups so far.....fingers crossed we've found a good one!

That's a good idea about using a hydrocortisone cream Million, we have some for his eczema, so that might be a possibility in the future, and yes, he was really struggling last night. Hate feeling powerless to know how to comfort him. I ended up putting sheets in the freezer! I didn't realise until I consulted Dr Google that some urticaria is a reaction to cold, but thankfully it seemed to help rather than make it worse - trial and error!

[funnyface31]

I think you are tight about trial
And error . Hope he is feeling better.

[goodasitgets]

Mine is a heat reaction. Also happens when my heart rate increases so exercise and stress are triggers. Developed it at 12, now 30 and I control it mostly by bringing it up every day so the reaction is less. Also have dermographism which is useless for anything except writing swear words on my skin for entertainment
The specialist ramped my antihistamines up to a combined dose of 285mg which did nothing. My last option is immune suppressants but I'm reluctant to take them