My 20 month old son has had a nasty cold for almost two weeks and yesterday he woke up with hives all over his body. He was very itchy and I took him into the doctors right away. His ped didn't seem worried about it, he said that sometimes at the end of a virus kids can break out in hives. He told me to give him benadryl to help with the hives but I didn't ask how long this should last for. Today is day two with the hives and I feel so bad for him, they are very itchy and he is very Irritated. Just wondering how long this should last for, I have never heard of such a thing and i have seen a lot of cold with my 4 year.
One note...the benadrly does help but not completely and there are times where the hives seem to almost go away but they come back.
Anyone gone through this? Any comments or advice would be appreciated.
Every single one of my kids has had that before 2 years old. Don't know what it is but I am betting it a virus and once you have had it you can't get it again.
yes, with both of my sons!
Try an oatmeal bath...it really does help.
When their immune system is compromised (the cold) hives can happen. Just make him comfortable with oatmeal baths and other available anti itch remedies. Once his body get back on track they will go away. Make sure he's eating a healthy diet.
This happened with my daughter once when she was 15 months - had had a cold, then a week later broke out in rash...I had her seen at the doctor but she wasn't really itchy and it was not really hives (no raised bumps, just patches of red all over). They said it was just secondary to the cold and it would resolve on its own. I would just keep up with the Benadryl and oatmeal baths. The pediatrician might be able to recommend a different antihistamine if the Benadryl doesn't seem to be working.
Did the doc say anything about Fifth's Disease?Look it up. It is a virus that looks like a cold but end with a rash like hives. My son had it two weeks ago. Did he have a fever at any point? It is common and no big deal unless you are pregnant.
Its called a "viral rash."
Just a generic term.
But when my kids were younger AND if they had been sick in which they also had a fever... at the end of their illness, they got a rash.
Harmless. Not real uncomfortable or itchy.
But it is the virus, leaving the body/the body purging the virus.
Our Pediatrician, was never real concerned about it. It appearing AFTER my kids had been sick (and had been seen by the Ped for their colds) and after the fever/cold was gone.
This happened to my daughter once and they told me that if the benadryl didnt help within an hour to bring her back in. I'd call your dr.
Usually that's a sign that it was a strep infection, rather than a cold... although it could just be hives. Our allergic response is tightly tied to our immune systems. You'll know if it was allergies or not by dosing with Benedryl. If you dose and it goes away, it was an allergic mis-reaction. If not, it was probably strep... but there are a few others that can trigger a rash as well. (5ths, for example comes with a slapped cheek look after the illness has passed, certain viruses rash up, and the first sign of a MILD allergy to antibiotics -after a bacterial infection- is a rash that presents after a few days of being on the antibiotic).
Benedryl is one of the 'mostly harmless' drugs (like vitamins or tylenol) that it's easy to do a home test on. You dose with benedryl, if it doesn't clear up, it wasn't an allergy. (Although, to bake your noodle, a child or an adult CAN have both a hive response AND a post strep rash).
If after 24 hours on benedryl every 6 hours and the rash is still present, make an appt. It's pretty easy for a doc to look at a rash and see if it's actually hives or if it was an infection.
Hi M.,
Viruses only rare their head like this when the immune system is low. The cold just zapped him... Most people think that virus' have to run their course. To an extent that is true but you can speed it up with digestive enzymes. They attack the structure of the virus so the body can fight it off. Go to the health store and see what they have in a liquid form for your little one. It will help.
We staved off chicken pox in my 46 year old husband (6 pox total)......little ones immune systems seem to spring back quicker because they haven't been exposed to as many things that can break it down.
God bless,
M.
My 4 year old just had that last week. It went away within a few days. I did give him benadryl to help as well.
Rashes after a virus (also called "viral exathems") are very common, especially if there was a fever with the virus. If the rash doesn't go away in a week, have him rechecked. No, it is not specifically related to a strep infection (though it can be), but can appear with numerous different types of viruses. Also, if they are more "hive-like" rather than all over trunk or extremities, it could be an allergic reaction unrelated to the virus. Your pediatrician had no prescribed any antibiotics, did they? (They won't treat a virus anyway, but they can cause hives if there is an allergy to them). Hope your little one is feeling better soon.
My 15 year old did this in February. I rushed her to the ER and he said the same thing: it's a virus, let it run it's course, get more Benadryl. Hers lasted two days.
I think I would take him back into the doctor if they continue for more than three of four days.
