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Urticaria is a rather unpleasant symptom that appears on the skin. It is manifested by itching, redness and blisters, but also by swelling or puffiness. The cause of urticaria in children is difficult to establish, making its treatment difficult. What can hives be caused and how to treat it?
Urticaria in children – what is it and when does it appear?
Simply put, hives are a red rash that starts to itch. Red spots, also called stripes, can cover both small and large parts of the body. Red spots can be as small as a pin or very large, which merge together to form one large cluster.
a significant indicator of hives in children is how quickly a rash can develop. When something causes hives, a typical reaction time could be minutes or hours. The rash can be local or generalized, which means it either stays in one area or has spread to your entire body.
Occasionally, hives in children may be accompanied by angioedema, a swelling beneath the surface of the skin. The appearance of edema is very serious, especially in children. Parents should pay close attention to any swelling that affects the baby’s respiratory system. Angioedema can cause swelling of the throat or tongue, wheezing, difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest. If you notice any of these symptoms in your baby, see a doctor or seek medical attention immediately.
See: Acute laryngeal edema – what to do when it appears?
Urticaria in children – causes
Urticaria is caused by the increased permeability of the small capillaries of the skin, and as a result, there is swelling. It can accompany various bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections.
Often, urticaria also appears in diseases of the thyroid gland or systemic diseases. Unfortunately, determining the cause of urticaria in children is very difficult. In the case of chronic urticaria (lasting more than 6 weeks), the cause of the disease is often not found.
However, in children, urticaria is acute, meaning the rash will last less than 6 weeks. In this form, it is often a symptom of allergies.
The main causes of urticaria in children are as follows:
- virus infection – viral infections are the most common cause of urticaria in children all over the body. In addition to hives on the body, other symptoms may appear, such as fever, cough, or diarrhea. Such hives in children can last 3 days. This is not an allergy.
- bacterial infection – some bacterial infections can also cause hives in children. A common example is bacterial pharyngitis in children. Urticaria is also seen with bladder infections (UTIs),
- drug reaction – an example is penicillin rash. Most rashes that appear while taking antibiotics are viral rashes.
- reaction to food A rash in a child after eating certain foods may indicate an allergic reaction,
- sting – extensive hives following a sting may be part of a serious allergic reaction
- anaphylactic reaction (very serious) – sudden onset of hives with difficulty breathing or swallowing. This is a severe allergic reaction to an allergic food or drug. Most often it begins within 30 minutes of ingesting the substance. Always within 2 hours of exposure,
- cause unknown – in more than 30% of cases, the cause of urticaria in children was not found.
Also read: Why Do Doctors Prescribe Zinc For Viral Diseases?
Urticaria in children – occurrence
The frequency of hives in children is quite high. It is often family-related, and if the hives occur in parents, the problem may also affect children more often. Hives in children are then genetic in nature and result from a reduced activity of one of the proteins.
Urticaria in children – symptoms
The symptom of urticaria in children is the sudden and very intense appearance of blisters that look like the site of an insect bite or skin contact with nettle.
The blisters are not tall, pinkish red in color, and very itchy. Their size is very diverse. Some changes are a few millimeters in diameter, others even several centimeters in diameter.
Urticaria in children – treatment
Symptoms related to acute urticaria disappear on their own after about 6 weeks. The efflorescence disappears after a few hours. If the skin changes are very extensive and you experience angioedema, you should see a doctor. He will prescribe anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling medications.
Unfortunately, angioedema can be life-threatening, especially if it affects the glottis and larynx, and there is also a drop in pressure. Laryngeal involvement is evidenced by shortness of breath, voice changes, and a feeling of obstruction in the throat.
Treatment of hives in children depends on its cause. Most often, the doctor recommends avoiding the rash-causing factor and prescribes oral antihistamines and sometimes glucocorticosteroids. Occasionally, your doctor may recommend that you apply antihistamine ointments to the skin.
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