My little boy has had hives since Tuesday morning, it is now Friday afternoon and they aren't getting better. They seem worse actually. We give him Benadryl per our Dr. every 8 hrs but that is barely cutting it. I've set an appt with an Allergist for this coming Tuesday - it was the first available. My question is: How long do hives usually last. Can they last a full week and still go away. I'm just worried about his throat swelling. He seems fine and totally unaware of them 99% of the time but they just look so bad. I'm a first time mom so I'm not sure if I'm over reacting or my constant worry is justified. I even set my alarm at 2am to give him a dose just to be sure. Ugh. I'm super worrisome and neurotic as is....I wish these things would take a hike : (
We took him to the Dr. on Tuesday. She seemed very unconcerned. She told me that if they aren't bothering him they shouldn't bother me. Nothing, I mean literally nothing has changed at home or at day care. Nothing. The only thing I can think of is we brought a Christmas tree in on Friday night. But that it and that wouldn't be the reason because the hives didn't show up until Tuesday morning.
The Benadryl works but as soon as the 8 hours are up on the dose he needs another. The nurse told me not to wake him up for it at night but I'm so worried about swelling. I have no idea what is causing this. Tuesday seems like a long time but with a specialist it's difficult to get in immeadeatly as I'm sure you all know. It's the best I could do and that would make his appt with the Allergist exactly 1 week from when the hives showed up, which isn't too bad. I've called the nurse every night since we saw the Dr. Pretty sure they are all humoring me and think I'm a nutty FTM. Sigh...I'll just keep up with the Benadryl until Tuesday I guess. I
I'd say the doc knows what they're talking about for something like this but I'd be giving that child some steroids to help his system counter what's going on in addition to the Benadryl. I hope the allergist is helpful.
I bet it is the Christmas tree. It took awhile for the pollen and whatnot to infiltrate your house. My mother loves real trees, but she's allergic and can't have a real one in the house.
Take the tree outside and clean well. If possible, have someone watch your child elsewhere while you do it. Borrowing or buying an air purifier would help too.
You need to get rid I of the tree... He is still being exposed to whatever is causing the hives, which is why they keep recurring after treatment, and the tree sounds like the most likely culprit. It could have easily taken a couple days for enough particulates to get in the air to cause a reaction.
I'd head to the doctor for a benadryl shot and a steroid shot.
If the hives are worsening, it means that he's still being exposed to the allergen. What is it that caused the reaction? Have you changed detergents, soaps, shampoos? New food in the house? New scented candle or spray or perfumes on any family members? Something on the carpet? Pets?
You need to narrow down what he's recently been exposed to and remove it.
Have you tried a colloidal oatmeal bath?
I do know people who are allergic to Christmas Trees. They have artificial for that reason.
Any idea what triggered the hives? Did you introduce him on anything new? It is an allergic reaction to something. I would call the doctor if the benadryl isn't working. Has he have hives for a week or has he been on benadryl for a week and still have the hives? If you just started the benadryl, sometimes it takes a little time (24 hrs) for the hives to go down. It works pretty quick if you give it as soon as you see the hives.
Worrying is part of a mother's territory. You would still worry about this even if it's you 6th child. Call the nurse's line at your dr.'s office. They should be able to help you.
I used to get hives and never found out why, they would come and go and itched like crazy. They can be caused by allergens like, detergents, foods, pets, etc. or stress and/or lack of sleep. I was getting them when I worked a night shift (4am start) and was in the process of buying my first home. Once those two things changed the hives have only returned when I am very over tired and lacking sleep.
At the time I had them I was taking Claritin for hives, but I don't think they make it anymore. Don't wake him to take Benadryl, let him rest.
Start going through your home (and school) to see if there is anything new being used since they started. Or start eliminating things one at a time and see if they start to go away.
It seems sometimes this can go on for a week or longer.
Hang in there and keep in contact with your doctor.
Sometimes a cause is never identified.
If he has hives he is having an allergic reaction to something, heaven knows what. Thankfully they are not bothering him but I would watch him very carefully.
My son (he was about 8 at the time, so much older) had a reaction like this on Thanksgiving day a few years ago. He was covered in hives and felt like his skin was on fire. I had him in bed naked for a while to try and calm it and gave him Benedryl. I finally took him to the ER. They gave him a shot of Epinephrine and a prescription for some steroids. We also continued with the Benedryl every 8 hours.
Definitely continue to set your alarm and give the Benedryl in the night. Watch him carefully for any signs of difficulty breathing at the first sign of difficulty take him to the ER. Was he seen by his pediatrician? or just a phone call? I'll be honest, Tuesday seems like a long ways away to me.
Take Care,
M.
We never figured out what caused the problem. It took about a week for all the symptoms to subside. We had been at Home Depot the night before looking at Christmas decorations and thought that maybe the dust or something he inhaled might have set it off.
I also think it could be the tree. I wouldn't let him touch it until you can rule that out. We can't have a real tree because of allergies.
