As a parent watching your child break out in hives can be very stressful as they seem to appear out of nowhere and within hours can completely cover your child's body. However despite their appearance hives in children are relatively harmless, very common and will most likely disappear within a few days without treatment, never to appear again.This is because unlike adults the most common cause of hives in children is actually illness, where they will experience a hives breakout as the body tries to protect itself from a virus or bacterial infection.
Even the common cold or flu can cause a hives breakout in children. If you notice that your child also has a small fever then this is the most likely reason for their hives. In this case usually the best method of treatment is to make sure you properly wash your child's clothes and bed linen to stop the spread of infection and after a few days you should notice the hives starting to disappear.
Are Hives in Children Contagious?
No hives are not contagious, so it is still fine for your child to interact with other children. But as said above hives in children are usually caused by a virus or infection which is contagious, so if your child displays other symptoms of being unwell then you should keep them away from other children until they are better.
What to Do if Your Child Experiences Recurring Hives?
If after a few days the hives have not disappeared or improved then there could be some other allergen causing the breakout. Other common causes of hives are:
food - such as eggs,peanuts, fish, soy, wheat or dairymedicine - penicillin, aspirin and ibuprofenheat and sun exposureinsect bitesanimal danderhousehold products such as laundry detergent
Unfortunately because there are so many allergens it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of your child's hives. Try and think of anything new that your child might have had or done 24 hours before the hives breakout, some quick ideas are:
have you started using a new laundry detergent?do you have a new soap or shampoo?is your child taking cold or fever medication?
If the majority of hives welts are on your child's face and around their mouth then this can be a strong sign that their hives are caused by a food allergen. If you notice that after eating certain foods, or taking certain medications that the hives come back or are worse then you should remove these substances from your child's diet or environment. Removing the trigger will usually completely cure the problem.
When to Call Your Doctor
If you notice your child exhibiting any other form of allergy symptoms such as difficulty breathing, vomiting and dizziness or your child has a history of allergic reaction then you should call your doctor immediately. Similarly if you notice a strong fever then you should also call your doctor immediately.
For more information on What Causes Hives read this article on the most common causes of hives and how to avoid them.
Check out our website for complete unbiased reviews and information on the best treatments for hives at Hives Treatment Guide.