M 6yr Old has had hives for 3 weeks?

Question

My 6 year old has had hives for 22 days now to this posting. Let me give you a bit of history. He was POS for strep back in April and was put on Amoxicillin. He finished the dosing. He soon got sick again within a few weeks and tested POS for strep AGAIN!!. He was put on Cephalexin(keflex).  He continued the keflex and the sore throat and fever were not getting any better about 5 days later. We took him to the ER who did a chest X-ray and said he had pneumonia. They told me to stop all other meds and gave him a shot of penniciilin in the ER and put him on Cefdinir. Then....about 10days to 2 weeks later he broke out in hives while he was healthy and has had them for over 3 weeks. I have been an emotionaly wreck for the most part. I mean...just how do you have hives for 3 weeks? I took him to the childrens clinic twice, ER once with the hives when they got so bad they were on his face, then his pediatrician who referred us to an allergist. The benadryl didnt touch him. He was scrathing like a dog for 3 weeks day & nite and I have barely slept worried about him. They wrote me a script for an epi-pen to carry. So....I have racked my brain trying to figure out what he has gotten into. I gave away all of my laundry soap and started to wash everything in just water although the allergist strongly feels this was medication related. I asked them to do bloodwork because when you google 'chronic hives' it talks about lupus, cancer, lukemia, e.t.c so I have been a mess crying for the past 3 weeks worrying about him. The bloodwork ALL CAME BACK FINE. The hives really don't really seem to phase him except for the itching. I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THISHAS HAPPENED??? I have read where some people have hives for years; he's only six.....I NEED HELP??? The allergist just put him on Zyrtec, Hydroxizine(itch) and Prenisolone (for 15 days. We are on day 5 and the side affects are making me want to discontinue the meds. He has been unbearable and complaining of muscle and joint pain. this is something I've NEVER heard out of my six year old. He's cranky and hyper but the hives have somehwhat went away except for a few where there is friction such as the waistline, neckline, e.t.c   I have decided on my own to DETOX him while he's on this medicine and had to put a lock on the fridge. I only want hime to drink water and yogurts with pro-biotics, and fruits and veggies and it has been hard keeping him out of junk food because he's akid. Has anyone else ever experienced this with your young child? Will they go away OR come back and do you think this is a medication allergy and what do I do if he gets sick and needs antibiotics? HELP????

Aubrey C · Accepted Answer

If the allergist believes that the hives are related to his Cefdinir, they very well might be. Sometimes it takes several weeks to months for reactions to drugs to calm down.  Some people with Sulfa drug allergies, for example, become deathly ill weeks and weeks after stopping the meds.  (My best friend who is a physician had this personally happen to her.)

Please reconsider "detoxing" your child. There are no controlled experiments that demonstrate that a "detoxing" diet will rid a person of any illness. (Do not confuse testimonials or limited studies of a small amount of people for a large scale experiment.)

 Your child's diet should be clean for sure, limit the processed foods, etc.  But don't limit lean meats or dairy, especially if the child has not demonstrated an allergy to them before this event occured. 

Hives are annoying but not life-threatening.  If the child is not responding to the allergy medicines, bring him back to the allergist.  Also ask about testing for allergies related to the 3 antibiotics he has taken in the past few months.  It could be any of those.  

Soothing oatmeal baths and topical anti-itch ointments may get him through the worst days until you get this sorted out. Until then, I'd get a second allergist's opinion if you can afford it.  I'd also make a second appt with the allergist who is currently treating him.

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Bunnee · Answer

Whoa, you really do have a story there!  And I understand your frustration.  Meds can stay in the body a long time.  Most likely he did have a reaction to one of the oral or injectable (penicillin) antiobiotics given to him.  It's a shame he was so sick w/strep (obv. first antibiotic didn't work) and then he needed another and then still developed pneumonia.  Since I believe he was allergic to one of the antiobiotics, the hives hanging around for so long is b/c the meds were in his body for so long.  I've a friend you had a rash for 6 - 8 wks after antiobiotic treatment but it didnt appear until 3-4 wks after going off the antiobiotics.  The doctor told her to assume it was the antiobiotics causing this reaction as they were still in her system and her body was now reacting to it.  She had to use special lotion for the itching which was incessant and could barely keep on any clothing as it would irritate her more.  So, I would give him "Oatmeal baths"  (Aveeno is one brand name)  Perhaps Calamine lotion on the hives to help w/itching or the cream prescribed.  You say they are starting to go away so let's hope it doesn't reoccur but anytime one is on something that causes a reaction the next one could be worse.  You really need to know which antiobiotic caused the reaction.  The epi pen is great should he get a severe reaction and hopefully, he'll stay nice and healthy.  Yogurt and probiotics are the best things to take when on antibiotic anyway as it helps to rebalance the good bacteria and good yeast in our bodies.  Also lots of water is always good.  I don't thing that if he has some other foods it will hurt though.  It seems that this was a combo of his body producing lots of histamine due to meds/illness, etc.  Speak w/pediatric allergist to see if he can be tested for certain allergans.

Only Joni · Answer

First thing you need to do is calm down. Many times hives are caused by stress and nervousness, as well as allergens. Antibiotics can cause hives and do so in many children. 

Give the child baths in which you have dissolved oatmeal in. Put about a cup of regular or quick cooking oats, in a washcloth and tie it with a rubber band or something and soak it in bath water and let him bathe in it. It will soothe the itch. 

Yes, detox him off all the meds and leave him alone for a few days. The hives just might go away on their own if he's not stressed about meds and being sick and all external stresses are removed, including YOURS and if he's not being given something he's allergic too. Many children are allergic to Amoxicillan.

If this doesn't work, figure out what you have ADDED to your household recently that corresponds to the time frame where he developed hives and start removing those things. This includes products as well as foods. 

With a little patience, you'll get this figured out. Good luck and continue to feed him his normal diet. Chances are it is not diet related.

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M 6yr Old has had hives for 3 weeks?

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