Hives

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When to see the doctor

Go to the doctor if:

• your child has marked swelling of the mouth or tongue, or has difficulty breathing (angioneurotic oedema)
• your child is generally unwell or has a fever in addition to having hives
• the hives appeared immediately after your child took any sort of medicine
• the rash has not disappeared after 2-3 days.

What causes them?

Hives are generally caused by an allergic reaction to various substances, which may include certain types of foods, food colourings, preservatives, plants, drugs (for example, penicillin), insect bites and many others. They are very common.

What are the symptoms?

Hives are intensely itchy, raised, whitish-pink spots which together form a rash, usually on the trunk. Spots may become quite large (up to 5 cm in diameter each) and may form giant urticaria, which are very large patches on the skin. Hives usually last for several hours and then slowly resolve. They are caused by fluid leaking from small blood vessels under the skin, forming raised blotches. This is in response to a chemical, called histamine, being released from the cells due to some trigger factor such as a bite or allergy.

How is it treated?

There is very little you can do except to try to ease the itching with calamine lotion. A spoonful of bicarbonate of soda added to a tepid bath may also help to ease the symptoms. Your doctor may suggest using an antihistamine until the hives resolve. In severe cases steroids may need to be given. Hives are not contagious.

How can I prevent it?

Try to identify the cause of the allergy and have your child avoid the offending substance. In many cases the substance cannot be identified. You may wish to discuss with your doctor the option of skin tests for allergies.

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