help for hives

supermom802 · 11-24-2003, 02:09 PM

My 10 year old daughter has had what I think is a severe allergic reaction 3 times in the past 6 months. Her face and eyes swell. She goes on prednisone and zyrtec. This started for the third time this past Friday and the prednisone did not help even after the doctor increasedthe dosage to 20 mg-4 times per day. She has severe ithching and looks like she has a very bad sunburn. She is stabilized within 4 days but not improving. I am supposed to go to a dermatologist but I'm told I have to wait 2 months for an appointment. I am trying to fight this battle today. I can't figure what has caused this. I have not changed soap or detergent. She has not been outside for about 10 days. The doctors think that it is not a food allergy because the inside of her mouth is not affected. Any advice? I'm trying to get in with an allergist, too.

molly123 · 11-24-2003, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supermom802

My 10 year old daughter has had what I think is a severe allergic reaction 3 times in the past 6 months. Her face and eyes swell. She goes on prednisone and zyrtec. This started for the third time this past Friday and the prednisone did not help even after the doctor increasedthe dosage to 20 mg-4 times per day. She has severe ithching and looks like she has a very bad sunburn. She is stabilized within 4 days but not improving. I am supposed to go to a dermatologist but I'm told I have to wait 2 months for an appointment. I am trying to fight this battle today. I can't figure what has caused this. I have not changed soap or detergent. She has not been outside for about 10 days. The doctors think that it is not a food allergy because the inside of her mouth is not affected. Any advice? I'm trying to get in with an allergist, too.

Hi, I experience something similar last year where I woke up and my eye lids and areas around my eye and cheeks were red and swollen. I think mine was a reaction to dust after cleaning out the garage. It lasted a long time - close to 8 months...I have had hives come and go and they last a long time too. Don't ever know what the cause is either. My dermtologist gave me a prescription of Elidel (for ecezma, inflammation of the skin)...it helped. Putting cold compresses and not scratching helps too.

I have had on Zyrtec years ago due to hives on the body (due to a stressful situation in my life) and all it did was knock me to sleep. I took a lot of oatmeal baths too because I was constantly itchy. It seems like only "time" can get rid of this. Also, I am sure she feels "ugly" (because I sure did), which causes stress and makes it worse - it is a vicious cycle.

Don't wait for your appointments - get another doctor. I think having to wait 2 months is ridiculous! By the way, food allergy does not always affect the inside of your mouth. Everyone reacts differently. I am allergic to 4 food groups - I get congested and only once have I felt my mouth/throat itchy - my voice was changing at the dinner table! When they tested me for food allergies, I went to a Nose/Throat/Ear doctor - took a blood test and had me write all the things I normally ate. Went on an elimination diet for about 3 months and ever since I have not the congestion the same way.

Hope this helps...

Molly

HAAR · 11-29-2003, 10:07 PM

Has she been taking any ibuprofen? (Advil, Motrin).
These products and (Benedril) give my daughter and myself hives.

Hives and face swelling is labeled right on the warning label of bottles of Advil (which of course is ibupropen), so is Motrin and other .

Another thing that makes my daughter get a bad red rash is too much chlorinated pool swimming if the chlorination is high. It super fades out her swimsuit in just a two day swim party.

openseason · 11-29-2003, 11:03 PM

I had severe giant hives and never could find out exactly what caused them. Your daughters sound like an allergy. However there is a very small percentage of families that get these severe hives and it is hereditary. The attacks come and go without an allergic trigger of any kind. You could check with the rest of the family, because it is very rare type of hives. Its called heriditary angioedema and is caused by a defeciency of a C1 inhibitor protein in the blood.

tina24 · 12-01-2003, 01:53 PM

I have a bad allergy reaction to cold weather. I get hives all over my body and sweling in my face and feet. I am taking claritin which kinda subsides the itching, has it been cold where you live?