Talk to me about allergic reactions (pics in thread)

[SleepForTheWeek]

DD (2.10) has came out in an allergic reaction rash covering her torso, arms and thighs. I've attached some pictures to show how it's developed over the last few days, it started 4 days ago and is getting worse. Doctor has prescribed piriton which has really helped (when i can get her to take it!!) but it doesn't stop more spots/rash from developing.

There are 3 potential things o can think of that may have caused it:

Co op nappies which she wears at night (the rash started along the waist band of the nappy)

Co op wipes

Bio detergent powder on her sheets.

The first 2 I've been using for 3 weeks - could it take a couple weeks for a reaction to occur? And would it cause a rash on other parts of the body that the nappies/wipes wouldn't be touching?

I washed her sheets the day before the rash appeared so this is most likely - although I've used bio liquid with no reaction before. Also, again, would it cause a rash where it's not touching? (Her thighs, for example)

Any other suggestions?? She's not eaten anything different and has never had a reaction to anything like this before

Nah, in my experiences allergic reactions happen pretty much immediately.

She been rolling in grass? Worn something new?

She was rolling in freshly cut grass today but not earlier in the week as it's been raining. Hasn't been wearing anything new either.

Wish it was something obvious

Has she been poorly recently? Viral rash perhaps?

She had Hand,Foot and Mouth about 3/4 weeks ago but doc said it wouldn't take so long for a viral rash to appear - and would piriton calm it down?

Rashes aren't always instant. Especially if allergic to something that has been ingested.

In nursery, DD developed a rash around her mouth that wouldn't shift. Turned out they were wiping her face with asda wipes after eating. Went away when I asked them to use her own or just water on tissue.

Stop using the new items. Re-wash bedding on a hot wash with no detergent.

Does look like a viral rash though.

I've just re washed the bedding at 40 with non bio and have bought other nappies. I've got reusable wipes I'll use on her instead of disposables

If she's allergic to any of the above will it take a while for them to be out her system?

How long would a viral rash last?

When DD2 was younger she would sporadically come out in hives like this.
The first time she was about 2 at nursery. It was all over her legs and they panicked as it looked like she'd been scalded. The GP thought it may be a fish allergy but she never had a problem with fish again.
Once it was so bad her eyelids swelled up and she said her mouth felt funny.
She was referred for allergy tests and they didn't find anything she was allergic to at all.
It hasn't happened now for about 3 years.
I would make sure you have piriton in the cupboard and keep a watch.
If it happens again worth gp sending for allergy tests to rule things out if nothing else.
Hope your DD is better soon.

My kids had a similar one off dose of hives that lasted a couple if weeks, when toddlers. My doctor said it's a very common over reaction
to a virus; the immune system goes a bit wild. In my kids' cases the hives went all over their bodies (except face) and then dusappeared. They have no known allergies.

Could it be that?

See 'causes of hives' section.
patient.info/health/hives-acute-urticaria

It looks just like a rash my son has a couple of years ago. I'll see if I can find any pictures of it. It went on for months and got worse before eventually clearing up. The GP was convinced it was eczema, but it never came back after it eventually cleared up. I think it was Pityriasis rosea: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pityriasis_rosea

I can get hives without it being on the area that has had direct contact - can be heat/cold/a food trigger/wearing a particular fabric (but the rash is not the same area as the fabric iyswim).

Dd got a rash like this I think in response to sanitary pads, but has used the same ones since with no problems so think it might have been the pads plus the heat maybe? So I would suspect the nappies.

Looks the same as when DS had a viral rash too

Has she eaten more of a particular food than she may normally have eaten?
Dd got an attack of urticaria when she was 2. She had eaten lots of strawberries - a full punnet - and I am convinced that is what triggered it. She would usually have had maybe 3 or 4 with no reaction but I think - and the gp agreed with me - that an overload caused the reaction.

I get that its Urticaria also known as hives . You really need to find out what shes sensitive to, suggest going back to the doctor and asking if you can have a hospital referral.

They might do a skin prick test with a few irritants to find out what she is susceptible to. As you know Piriton does help stop it but don't cure it hence further investigation required. It is a blinking nuisance and often itches to bu^^ety to boot!.

If she dosen't like taking the tablets they do a syrup version which might be easier?.

Thanks everyone

It's a bio powder I used on her sheets, is normally non bio liquid I use but I have used bio liquid previously with no affect on her. I washed her sheets in non bio tonight, along with her 'blankie' (which caused a meltdown!!) and her two rabbit comforters.

Interesting about the overload of foods - she has re discovered her love of Tomatoes and having them everyday, although only 3/4 cherry tomatoes at a time. If the sheets/nappies/wipe change don't make a difference then I'll maybe try eliminating those.

Interesting to see how her skin is in the morning

My dd now in her 20s could never eat red food ie strawberries or tomatoes. As soon as she did she came out in a rash. I oalso had to always use the same nonbio powder. If l changed it she came out in a rash. She has gradually grown out of it but to this day cannot eat more than 2 strawberries. I would guess its the tomatoes.

It takes more then one exposure for allergies, and they can worsen with more exposures so it is possible that it's an allergy

Just to reiterate, she isn't necessarily sensitive to anything. It could simply be an immune system over reaction to a minor virus. This is common in toddlers.

My ds has a lot of allergies but only came out in hives once and we have no idea what caused it. I had similar as a child, just a one off. I wouldnt worry unless it keeps happening

Has she had antibiotics recently?

Last year my ds was admitted to hospital after he got a really bad rash it was darker than your dd's it was erethema multiforme (sp) which was caused by an allergic reaction to a course of amoxicillin he had just finished.

Sorry meant to add he had had amoxicillin before with no issue. As Pp said its not necessarily the first time they are exposed to something that causes an allergic reaction.
But my kids also often come out in post viral rashes too.

No she's not had antibiotics before, she did have the HFM a few weeks ago but the doctor said too much time had passed for there to be a connection?

It looked a little better this morning but by lunchtime new blotches had formed, even some on her jaw line now. I hid some piriton in some cucumber and managed to get some into her but it didn't really do much to bring down the rash.

She's been very tired and irritable over the last few days, not sure if it's maybe the piriton that could make her like that?

We went for lunch today and she kept lifting her top and shouting 'look at my chicken pox!' Got to love toddlers!! There's probably an AIBU thread about us haha

@bruffin how long did the hives last? Todos they get worse over a period of time and show up in new places or was it short lived?

It was short lived, but completely covered his torso, and lasted about a day. He just suddenly got very itchy, but we gave him anti histamine straight away.

These don't seem to be itchy and we are going into day 6 with no improvement.

Would a viral rash last this long?