Urticaria / Hives

[littlesox]

This isn't nappy or specifically bottom related but I figure this is the best place to put this.

DS has a rash pretty much all over his body at the moment. It's been diagnosed as an Urticaria rash (basically hives, in some spots it looks like mozzie bites, in others big welts) ... which could have been caused by anything. His GP suggests that it's probably an allergic reaction to a virus, which makes sense because we've all been a bit sick lately.

He suggested antihistamines (Phenergan) and if it didn't go away I was to take him back to get a prescription for oral steroids. It's come and gone a bit (which apparently is quite common with this type of rash) but it's not cleared up after a week. I'm really hesitant to give him oral steroids if it will go away on its own. He had a similar rash when he was about 7 months old and I don't think we gave him anything for that and it did go away eventually.

Anyone had experience with this type of rash with your children or yourself? What length of time did it hang around and did you do anything to treat the symptoms?

It wasn't itching him to begin with but I have noticed the last day or so he is starting to scratch. He's also pretty irritable and I don't if that's related either.

[mum2lucas]

No advice just a hug and hope he gets better soon poor little guy

[MGlatte]

Poor boy, Jules. Hope he's feeling better soon.

[monicat]

No advice just poor Eddy - hope it goes away without the steroids.

Good lord Jules only two weeks till you're due!! How exciting

[littlesox]

Thanks girls. It doesn't really seem to be bothering him ... more me and DH because it seems like it's just not going away. Guess I'll just keep an eye on it the next day or so and make his diet a bit more simple (take out all the foods with histamines in them) and hope that helps to clear it.

Yes, not too long to go now!

[thatgirl]

My eldest daughter had the same thing happen at about age 18mths or so. It was terrible and totally random, with no known cause. It too, was pretty much all over her body.
Our Dr told us to give her a single dose of Claratyne per day as required.
It took a long while for the rash to vanish.. I'm talking a good couple of months.. it was terrible and all over her (we hadn't changed any cleaning/washing/bathing products in the home, nor had we been anywhere different to normal).
We did initially give her the Claratyne but after about a week or so we noticed that it had stopped looking irritated and thereafter was a matter of it fading really. The Claratyne definitely helped with the redness of the urticaria, but didn't take it away entirely.
Hope your little man is back to normal asap.