If anyone could help me, I would greatly appreciate it. My 10 yr-old daughter developed severe hives one week ago. She did not eat anything different from the usual. Benadryl helps but makes her extremely drowsy. The pediatrician prescribed Claritin and Prednisone, whch ddid nothing. The hives generally are better in the a.m. and get worse in the afternoon and nght. She cries terribly because the itching is soooooooo severe, Nothing except the Benadryl really helps, and that doesn't even clear it completely. 2 days ago, I took her to a dermatologist and he said it was something systemic, either ingested or inhaled, and he gave her a cortisone shot. It is now 48 hrs later and last night she was unbearably itchy w/ hives again and now the hives are coming back because it's about 5 p.m. I'm really at my wit's end because there is not alot I can do to help ease her discomfort. Does anyone know how long it takes for the cortisone shot to atart working?? He said it was slow-acting, but shouldn't it be working by now?? Any thoughts or suggestions. I would really love to hear from anyone who could help. Thanks.
Kait 27

I don't know what can help the hives, other than what has already been done. Cool Baths with aveeno oatmeal may help a bit. If the hives show up worse later in the day & night, is there anything new she's exposed to? Plants, laundry detergents, soaps? Are the hives everywhere, or just certain areas?
New rugs in the house? Any noticable mold anywhere? Any new plants outside? ANy new pets she comes in contact to? Just trying to think of the most common allergens.
I'm sorry she has this horrible itchy hives thing...I can empathize because I know how itchy they can be , especially at night, when they do get a whole lot worse for some reason. I sure hope she feels better soon.

I had a VERY similar case of hives when I was in college about 5 years ago. I was about 18 at the time. They were better in the AM and by afternoon had come back with a vengance. They also prescribed me prednisone and it seemed to not work at all. I had a cortisone shot on day 4 or 5, but it didn't do a whole lot, either. I took benadryl at night, and it helped a bit, but the hives went through that same pattern for a week and finally gradually dissappeared after that. We never figured out what caused it. My hives were much worse on my legs, butt, and torso, and then around my sleeve lines, almost like it was a detergent reaction, but I hadn't used any new detergents or anything. We never found out what caused it.

My Dad gets hives from MSG's and Snuggle Fabric softener. He gets them HORRIBLY and can't do anything but stand in the shower because it makes him a little more comfortable. He also says that baths with baking soda and oatmeal help alot.

Good luck with her and I hope she feels better. Keep us posted.

Went through the same thing a few years ago. Hives All over for no reason I knew of. It did get worse as the day went on. I feel for your daughter. I did the benadrl ,shots etc. It did fade after a week or so. The only major concern was when the spread up onto my face and there was concern they were in my throat. but it didn't do that. After that time it's been 6 years never got them again. My Dr. said maybe it was a reaction to a virus? keep us posted on your daughter.

Hi There, I too went through the same thing some years ago. I had the hives so bad from head to toe. They raised up pretty big like welts and they even caused my hands and fingers to swell! They were so itchy and PAINFUL. I made several trips to the drs and to specialists with none of them being able to tell me what was causing them. I sufferred with them for several months!

I just wanted to tell you to NOT give your daughter aspirin or anything aspirin based while she is sufferring with these hives as the aspirin reacts with the hives and could cause her tongue and throat to swell, as this happenned to me. That is how i found out about the reaction between the two. I do know that there are other things ie: drugs, foods that can also cause the same reaction as the aspirin. I would do a search to check which things could cause this so as to make sure that your daughter doesnt have any of these things while her hives are active. Just a thought!

ValleyGurl

Thanks for everyone's concern. She's still bad after a week, but I feel a little bit better after reading that some of you have had a similar experience w/ the hives and itching and it actually went away eventually. She had a really bad time last night...I'm hoping maybe tonight things will be better. Crossing my fingers. I'll keep you all posted.
Kait27