HIVES (Cases of urticaria)

Red raised spots on children's skin are often a case of the hives (a common biological reaction to something like an allergen). They seldom cause serious health problems and most of them eventually clear up and go away.

Hives or urticaria are red raised bumps or welts on the skin. They can appear in any part of the body as small individual spots or large interconnected bumps. They can last from a few hours to a week (sometimes this period of time can be longer).


MOST COMMON CAUSES

• Allergic reactions to food (specially shellfish, tree nuts, milk and fruit), medications and allergy shots, pets or other animals, pollen, insect bites and stings.
• Infections, including colds
• Exercise
• Anxiety or stress
• Exposure to the sun
• Exposure to the cold
• Contact with chemicals
• Scratching
• Putting pressure on the skin

TREATMENT

• In many cases hives won't require any treatment and they will go away on their own.
• In case a trigger is identified, treatment will include making sure the child avoids it. If there is important itchiness, the doctor may prescribe an antihistamine medication.
• For chronic hives, the doctor may recommend a non-sedating prescription or over-the-counter antihistamine to be taken every day. If this does not work, a stronger antihistamine, another medication or a combination of medicines may be suggested by the specialist. In rare cases, oral steroids could be provided.

SEEK EMERGENCY CARE or CALL THE DOCTOR URGENTLY if you observe one of the followings:

• anaphylactic shock
• severe attacks
• angioedema

You may find interesting these videos about hives: