Recognize those Baby Hives Symptoms?
6 Simple Ways to Relief
Hives in Children

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Curious what hives look like in babies? Do you suspect your baby is suffering from hives?

Hives look like raised pink or red spots with pale centers (wheals) on the skin.

Picture of hives : Photo credit : Bratt

They can be very itchy and are often mistaken for bug bites. The spots have different shapes which disappear in one area and start in another.

Hives also called Nettle rash or Urticaria (medical name). Urtica means nettle in Latin.

Baby hives can appear anywhere on the body but it mostly affects the trunk, upper arms and upper legs.

What do hives look like?

Take a look at the pictures of hives on this page. Hives are usually diagnosed based on the history and body examination.

By clicking on the following thumbnails of hives you can view a larger image on Dermatlas.com.

Dermatlas: URTICARIA MULTIFORME / URTICARIA

What causes baby hives?

In most cases no apparent cause can be found, this is called Idiopathic urticaria.

With young babies a milk allergy can be the cause of hives. In this case milk is an allergen that upsets the immune system and triggers an allergic reaction. The attack usual begins within an hour after contact with the allergen.

So what happens exactly? A chemical called histamine is released by the mast cells. This causes fluid leakage of tiny veins in the skin. The build up of this fluid in the skin (oedema) is causing a rash.

Baby hives on the face (angioedema) may cause swelling especially around the eyes and lips. Do not mistake this for a food intollerance for lactose ,this is something completely different.

A lactose intollerance affects the digestive system causing stomach aches and diarrhea.

Other allergens can be:

Baby hives on belly. Baby hives on belly

Foods like seafood (especially shellfish), milk,wheat,nuts or strawberries.
Medicine like antibiotics.
Insect bites.
Food additives, very common with E102, E110, E127, E166, E211, acetyl-salicylic acid and aspartame.
Reaction to heat or cold( very rare).
Hives viral, due to a viral illness. If baby hives are caused by a viral infection your child may have other symptoms like coughing, a soar throat or a running nose.

How long do hives last?

Baby hives can last from a few days to 6 weeks and sometimes longer. Hives that last longer than 6 weeks are called chronic hives.

Hives triggered by food usually disappear within a few hours and hives caused by a viral infection can last 3 to 5 days. Chronic hives are rarely caused by an allergy but are most of the time the result of an autoimmune trigger.

Babies have a weaker immune system than adults and are therefore more susceptible to allergies. Breast feeding helps to strengthen the baby's immune system and reduces the chance of allergies.

An infants skin is very sensitive and may often develop a rash after applying baby lotion , cream or sun screen. Allergies can also be hereditary and are increasing all over the world.

Treating hives.

The best treatment is of course to avoid what triggers the hives. But what can you to relief your baby's hives.

Apply cool compresses or ice for 10 to 20 minutes.
Give a cool shower or bath. If the allergen ( pollen or animal dander) is still on the skin it will be removed.
Dress your baby in loose fitting clothes. Heat and sweating can make the hives worse.
Give antihistamine (Benadryl) every 6 hours and continue till 24 hours after the last hives have gone.
In more severe cases steroids are needed to treat the episode of hives.

Remember antihistamine is not a cure for hives but gives relief to it's symptoms.

You should call your doctor if the hives do not clear up after a few days of treatment with Benadryl.

When your child starts looking really ill or has difficulty breathing or swallowing call 911 or take your child straight to the emergency room of your local hospital. At this stage an injection of epinephrine can be life saving for your child.

Chronic hives

In most cases no cause can be found when children get hives. They may be allergic to something but you may never find out what caused the hives.

Hives viral on face and body.
photo credit: jillian werb

When your child gets hives over and over again an allergy test may be necessary to see what he or she is allergic to. Hives in children are not contagious so your child can normally play with other children.

Also keeping a diary may help to find out what triggers the hives in your child. An allergist or dermatologist may be able to help your peadiatrician to find what causing your child's hives.

Children with cases of chronic hives can find relief using OxyHives.

This is a natural and homeopathic medicine you spray twice under your tongue up to three times a day.

It won't make you drowsy like antihistamine sometimes does. It also helps to reduce the itching or burning sensation of hives, attacks the inflammation and helps for bruises following a hives rash.

Always consult a doctor before giving any homeopathic remedy to children under the age of 12.

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