If you are a parent, you know how distressing it can be when your child suddenly develops an uncomfortable and itchy rash. Even worse, you may not know what caused it or how to treat it. If you are looking for information about an effective treatment for hives this article will be helpful. While, hives outbreaks in children under sixteen years old are fairly unusual, for most children who do happen to experience the discomfort of hives, doctors find that the most frequent cause is due to an allergic reaction.
Less commonly the cause can also be non allergic. Generally this kind of outbreak is considered by doctors to be acute hives, but the good news is they usually disappear after a several hours rather than becoming a chronic problem. Your child may suffer from a hives outbreak occasionally, so using a treatment for hives that both soothes the itching, reduces swelling and any pain will be helpful.
Sometimes an outbreak of hives in children can also be related to a more serious and severe allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock, which requires emergency medical treatment. If you notice your child has an increased heart rate or difficulty in breathing, then you need to seek medical help immediately. Most often an effective treatment for hives in children is all that is needed.
Hives Symptoms in Children
The most common hives symptoms in children are often itchy raised bumps, welts or irregular patches that can also be white or colored red or yellow. They can develop anywhere on the body and some children find that they may also burn or sting. Rubbing or scratching the welts can cause them to become larger and spread. Using an effective treatment for hives in children is important to prevent them from becoming chronic.
Allergic Causes And Treatment For Hives In Children
When hives are caused by allergies, the triggers can be many different things ranging from contact allergies to fabrics or chemicals, food sensitivities, insect bites or stings, temperature changes, friction or rubbing etc.
If possible, as part of the treatment for hives, you should try to identify the allergic trigger and remove it or avoid it. Most allergic hives are quite itchy and appear as raised bumps or welts that are filled with fluid. The fluid is called histamine, which the skin cells release during an allergic reaction. These welts can be various colors, white, red even yellow and can occur on the face, neck, belly, back, and even the arms or legs. Parents should try ensure that their child doesn’t rub or scratch the welts as this will make it worse and can also cause the welts to become itchier and to spread.
Applying aloe vera gel, calamine lotion, sandalwood oil, a solution made from ginger or amaranth seeds or a cold compress to the rash have been found to be a treatment for hives that’s soothing and effective. Allergic hives generally subside within a few hours or less, particularly if the child is removed from the trigger.
Hives in children can also be triggered by a virus or other non allergic causes, which are very difficult to identify for parents. If you believe that your child’s hives are caused by a virus it’s best to consult a urticaria doctor who specializes in the treatment for hives.
Treatment For Hives In Children That Are Chronic
If your child develops chronic hives, which are characterized when they occur more frequently than twice a week and also last for more than six weeks the cause is generally thought to be an underlying condition or disease. The treatment for hives that are chronic is the same for both adults and children. Please see Dr. Levin’s treatment for hives for more details about treating your child’s hives naturally and effectively.