Should I use antihistamine with every reaction?

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My sons cheek broke out in hives today (so far hes seriously allergic to cows milk, eggs, goats milk) despite our house being a totally allergen free zone. We have no idea how it possibly happened (blood frustrating!).

I gave him antihistamine as I wasnt sure how bad it would get, but it stayed as 5-6 hives on his cheek which went down after 15 minutes, a couple of minutes after the antihistamines was given they started to calm. So really, there was no need for it.

Next time, do I wait and see? Or do I administer it every time just incase it evolves, and its best to get it in sooner rather than later, better safe than sorry?

Also, is Piriton just the trade name? As Ive noticed its actually Chlorphenamine. Is that the same type/strength antihistamine?

At his worst he was on Hydroxyzine. 'orrible stuff.

I've always played it on the basis of better safe than sorry but am interested in what others might say as I've always wondered the same thing, so thank you for posting this :)

We've always been told that if we're not certain then there's no harm in giving Piriton so that's what I tend to do.

Piriton is probably the most well known version of Chlorphenamine which is the active ingredient. If our GP ever prescribes it, the pharmacy always gives us Allereif which is another one that contains chlorphenamine. I never bother with this one as I trust Piriton and and can't be doing with worrying about another one not working so am happy to pay for our trusted Piriton.

It really is frustrating when our DD reacts to things in the house as we're the same as you and although not 100% allergen free, we are very careful. In our case though it could be that we aren't 100% allergen free

agree with use of piriton, esp with young child who can not explain how they are feeling.
once my son go older we washed skin, with patch of hives and wait for it to go down, if its a small patch, if large we give anti histamine, as it might show a stonger reaction coming iyswim.

has your son had tests for enviromental allergies, such as dustmite? tree pollen? (which is bad at the mo! has arrived early with this good weather)
this would explain the hives in our sons case.

No hes been tested for nothing yet. But DP is a landscape gardener, the break out was after he came home a picked him up so may have something to do with trees. I hadnt considered that.