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Hives
What Causes Those Angry Red Bumps?
By Katherine Bontrager
To identify what is causing your little one's hives, you must start with the circumstance surrounding the onset of hives. Ask yourself, was a new food added to the diet? Or was a food prepared outside the home, so you're unsure of all the ingredients? Was a new medication started? Did your child come into contact with a pet, or visit a home with a pet? "In these cases, the cause may be more obvious and typically result in a single episode of hives that resolves within a day or two," Dr. Maitland says.
This is much how Mooney had to investigate the source of Alexis' hives. "We eliminated known allergens from the house, from laundry, etc., and even took her down to an all-rice diet so we could slowly re-introduce foods," she says. "Ultimately, we did see some correlation (though we could never prove it 100 percent) between her eating chocolate and breaking out in hives. She also seemed to get hives when other kids around her would get sick, indicating that it was somehow related to an over-stimulated immune system."
But identifying the sources of hives may be only half the battle. Finding a way to treat the bumps your child currently has is another concern entirely.
"The good news is that for most kids, hives don't cause much trouble," Dr. O'Keeffe says. "If the child is old enough and feels itchy, there are antihistamines that can be given in a prescription form (over-the-counter forms of Benadryl can cause hyperactivity or cause children to become terribly sleepy, so a prescription is really necessary to ensure the right dosage). Some toddlers will be given non-drowsy Claritin. There are also some over-the-counter anti-itch lotions, such as Aveeno and Sarna, which may be beneficial. The question of whether to use them depends on how uncomfortable the child is. If the child isn't uncomfortable, the hives will run its course over a week or two."
