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[irhack]

My 18 month old keeps breaking out in hives. At first I thought it was viral, because it peaked three weeks ago and tapered off almost completely after a few days. She was just getting about one a day until the past week and I thought was completely hive-free the last few days. But, as of this morning they are back, she had about 5-6 huge ones on her belly when she woke up.

I am going to start a food diary for her and see if any patterns emerge. I am writing to see if anyone else has any other ideas or experiences to share. Should I also track my food intake, since we are still nursing? Are there other things besides food I should track?

Thanks!

[obprof]

What about laundry soap -- any recent changes?

Any new bath products lately?

New PJs?

[biomancer]

Hives are rarely caused by viruses, AFAIK (I'm a microbiologist, so I hope I'd know).  Food and things that Little Hack is coming into contact with would top my list of causes.  I second OBProf's recommendation to check your laundry soaps and bath products. FWIW,  I get hives from several laundry products, perfume ingredients, and from any food that contains seafood products.

[zuzu_]

When my toddler had very similar symptoms, it turned out to be Fifth Disease, in which case you do nothing except wait for it to pass. Contact your doctor to see if you can treat symptoms with a small dose of benadryl.

[biomancer]

When my toddler had very similar symptoms, it turned out to be Fifth Disease, in which case you do nothing except wait for it to pass. Contact your doctor to see if you can treat symptoms with a small dose of benadryl.

Oh, good point, Zuzu!  Fifth Disease (which is caused by a parvovirus, IIRC) causes a rash that can get big enough to look like hives.  IRHack, Little Hack would have a low-grade fever with Fifth Disease along with the large rash that usually starts on the face.  There isn't a treatment for it other than antihistamines, and it usually goes away in 5-10 days on its own.  However, if Little Hack hasn't been vaccinated for rubella ("German measles") and has a high fever or other symptoms beyond the raised large rash, it might be worth visiting the pediatrician to make sure it isn't something more serious.

If there's no fever, just hives (true hives, not a confluent rash) then I stand by my previous post. 

[irhack]

No, it's definitely hives, the doc confirmed it. We have not gotten any new soaps or pajamas at all recently. Scratch that- a friend gave me a bag of hand me down clothes that I have not been diligent about washing before using. Including an outfit Sunday. Bingo! I hope! 

[conductress]

I'm sorry to hear about your baby. I had a similar problem when I was younger. My anecdata may not be relevant at all, but given that it's a pretty rare and strange occurence, it can't hurt to share. As an infant/toddler, I would break out in hives all over my body within about 10 minutes of waking up. There were no changes in detergents, bedding, etc. I was put on a medication which I do not know the name of and, after a few years, I was old enough to start getting allergy shots and the problem went away. When I was around 12 years old, the same thing started happening again. I was eventually put on Sinequan (an antidepressant/anxiolytic that is also prescribed in topical form for itching, but which I took in pill form), which stopped the morning hives. I highly doubt Sinequan is safe for an infant, but you might ask your pediatrician about something similar. Neither my doctors nor myself have ever truly figured out what caused the hives, but I suspect it has something to do with sleep cycles. As I understand it, antihistamines are not produced during deep sleep, but begin circulating again quite rapidly after waking. Have you had her allergy tested? I wasn't tested till I was 4, I think, but maybe they do skin tests younger these days. At any rate, my hives were atypical, but I've also had typical and bad skin allergies all my life, so your baby's hives may be symptomatic of skin allergies even if you aren't able to find anything specific causing them. But, as others have said, laundry detergent is definitely a possible culprit and that's where I would start.

[irhack]

That's interesting about the morning hives, especially since when she's had big outbreaks it was always in the morning.

Do you know if stress can be a factor? Cause sometimes I notice new hives on her after she's been crying.

[dellaroux]

Zoster? (but don't you have to have had chicken pox first?)

And they would probably hurt and have her itching, so scratch that.

(oops...)

:--}

[schoolmarm]

I had chronic allergy-induced hives as a child. Stress does matter and can escalate the allergy induced hives when they normally would not pop out.

I think that hives on the belly would be clothing related (dryer sheets/soap?) or perhaps a reaction to an insect bite. I used to get spreading large hives from mosquito bites (also bee and wasp stings).   

When I had a food allergy it was usually in the throat/face first. 
Medication allergies usually showed up on my arms/hand/face/legs....more systemic.

Benedryl is your friend!  I hope your little one gets some relief soon!

[conductress]

Stress can definitely be a factor. I still break out sometimes when I'm stressed. If she's breaking out every morning, then I wouldn't think it was stress, but if you're noticing a pretty frequent correlation between crying and hives, it's definitely a possibility.

[macaroon]

Hives are often a systemic reaction - so just being on the belly doesn't mean that it has to be something that is in contact with her belly.  It could still be food.