2yo getting facial hives every time we go outside

[JollyPurpleGiant]

Monday, Tuesday and today DS has had hives on his cheeks, ears and hands when spending time outside. Monday he was our for a walk in the buggy and DH took him straight to the doctors where he was prescribed an antihistamine. Hives went down of their own accord before the antihistamine was given.

Tuesday we went out in the car then walked for a bit and they came up again, but calmed down when we got back in the car and pretty much disappeared when he was showered.

Today we were out at an outdoor attraction and the hives came up within 15 mins of being outside. We gave him the antihistamine but they didn't calm down until we were back in the car a couple of hours later.

What could this be? An allergy to the cold? Will it go away? He's never had them before. And he doesn't have any food allergies/intolerances. But he does have mild eczema.

It could be the cold, wind, or the sun or even pollen count if you are noticing it when you take your DS outside.

Sorry - don't know what the weather is like where you live. (It's warm here and last week the temperature shot up and my colleague had terrible allergies almost immediately)

It's not likely to be diet if you are noticing a pattern. i would just keep some age appropriate antihistamine in my bag. Can he take Benadryl for example?

I think cold is probably most likely, or pollen. It has been around 10 degrees here and he's been out in a jacket. Was windy today too.

The doctor prescribed chlorphenamine maleate (or something like that, don't have bottle on me). But it didn't seem to help today.

I don't know anything about Benadryl but will look it up. I assume I'll have to give nursery a heads up about this too and provide them with some antihistamines too.

I called the docs today to try to get an appointment this week, but I need to call tomorrow for an emergency appt as they have nothing left. As the prescription he was given was just for a one off event I'm not sure if I should be giving him it regularly.

Plus, the reaction looks uncomfortable but doesn't seem all that serious so I'm not clear how much panicking I should do if it happens again.

Definitely need medical advice I think And i will report back!

Saw the doctor this morning.

He has been prescribed a 5 day course of cetirizine. If a reaction reoccurs after the 5 days are up then he will get a referral to allergy clinic.

We also now have to keep piriton with us at all times in case of a reaction. The nice doctor gave us a bottle for nursery on top of the one for keeping with us.

Doctor guesses pollen is most likely and also said the situation likely wasn't helped by the virus DS had at the weekend.

Try sunscreen on him, if it's the sun it should help. I have an allergy to strong sunlight so only affects me in the summer months, if I go out I wear factor 50 as well as taking the antihistamines. I hope the meds help and you find out what it is.

My DS was very sensitive when little, but he did grow out of it.

There was only one frightening experience where he was scratching in his sleep and when I put on the light he had turned into a big swollen lobster. We took him straight to the Childrens Hospital and he was given an antihistamine there and it calmed down quite quickly.

The diagnosis was "nettle rash" but the cause was completely unknown.

At least having some Piriton to hand will overcome any suprises!

Yeah, the piriton is reassuring :)

Thanks folks.