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Children's health

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Original poster

13 year old with severe hives

54 replies

milkysmum · 29/05/2022 21:03

Just to start by saying I have taken dd to urgent care this afternoon on advice of pharmacist, after she broke out in hives and her lips swelled.
Doctor at urgent care said she had clearly had an allergic reaction to something but couldn't say what. Considered sending her over to A&E in the next town but as her lips had gone down and breathing was normal agreed to discharge home with Piriton and Prednisolone and to arrange bloods with GP next week.
DD has experienced mild swelling to her hands before but we've never been able to pin point cause- never had hives like this though or the swelling to lips.
Any ideas what it could be? Is it worth paying for allergy testing do you think or will GP do this?

OP posts:
Original poster
milkysmum · 29/05/2022 21:06

They are like these all over both arms, stomach, hips, neck etc.

OP posts:
KarrotKake · 29/05/2022 21:17

Oh, man, those are big. Hope she is feeling better with the drugs.
DS had a mass hives outbreak several years ago - but tiny one. I literally watched them spread over about an hour until I could get transport to the hospital. His airway was slightly compromised by the end. Hospital (not in UK) gave him steroids and antihistamines to take for a few days, but chucked him out out hospital in about an hour.
It's not been repeated. I carried piriton wherever we went for a couple of years, but am not always ontop of it now.
We had no follow up - but as I said, not UK.

KangarooKenny · 29/05/2022 21:19

Has she eaten/touched anything new ?

ScootsMcHoy · 29/05/2022 21:22

Gosh.

New fabric softener? Or could she be allergic to a pollen that is now on her clothes if they were dried outside?

I'd definitely start keeping a detailed food and drink diary. Make sure you put the brands so you can go back and read the packets if necessary.

Original poster
milkysmum · 29/05/2022 21:23

Those pictures were a few hours ago, they are even bigger now on her arms and hips, though her hands are less swollen so she clench her hands and they feel less 'tight'.
This morning she looked liked she had lip fillers done honestly!
We can't think of anything new she could have been in contact with or eaten- it's so strange.

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Discovereads · 29/05/2022 21:26

Those look massive and painful. Your poor DD.
It doesn’t have to be new, often companies will change ingredients in food and not say anything like “new recipe” or “improved taste” on the packaging. So it could be something she’s usually fine with but not anymore.
I think allergy testing is what you are going to have to do. Keep taking photos so a GP can refer you.

ScootsMcHoy · 29/05/2022 21:28

You can develop an allergy. My dd had started school when she had a reaction to peanuts which she had had loads of times before and I had a severe reaction to a pear in my forties.

WreckTangled · 29/05/2022 21:29

I used to get this as a teen and it started again when I was in my mid 20's. My lips would be massive and sometimes my tongue would go, but never my throat. I had allergy test etc but was diagnosed with idiopathic urticaria. I do have an autoimmune disease plus some of the markers for lupus so I think my body can just go a bit silly sometimes! It's not nice at all, I'm pleased she's ok now.

Oh, it's been years since I had any Smile

Yarnasaurus · 29/05/2022 21:31

Oh bless her Flowers

It does sound like an allergy.

Make a note of everything she ate, drank, any meds, toiletries used etc for the 24hr before.

You can only have an allergic reaction to something you've encountered previously, so don't waste time and effort trying to identify something new, as it won't be that.

Contact GP tomorrow and she should be referred for testing.

Original poster
milkysmum · 29/05/2022 21:50

Looks like there is more hives appearing on her legs now. Will ring GP first thing.

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Londoner2022 · 29/05/2022 21:58

Sorry she's experiencing this. I get regular hives like that, also idiopathic urticaria. It happens most frequently after a virus. (Has she recently had covid?)

Some advice:

  • rest as much as she can, let her body recover
  • (please seek medical advice before doing this) you can normally take higher doses of antihistamines than it says on the packet. They can make you sleepy, but they work.
  • avoid tight clothes or anything too hot or cold, including baths, heavy blankets.
  • they will eventually recede but I know right now it feels like forever
  • it's rare for the airway to be dangerously affected but obviously seek help if you're concerned.
Yarnasaurus · 29/05/2022 21:58

If they're not going with antihistamines you need to call 111.

If her lips start to swell again you need to call 999 and say that you suspect anaphylaxis.

Yarnasaurus · 29/05/2022 22:02

If she had a history of similar reactions that did not progress then Londoner's advice would be fine, but this is new and there's no way for anyone on the internet to know how her symptoms will progress. There is no way for anyone to know that this won't get worse, and potentially very quickly. Hopefully it won't, but until you have more information you can't be sure.

ScootsMcHoy · 29/05/2022 22:10

When was the last time she had some antihistamine?

OldTinHat · 29/05/2022 22:13

You need to take her to A&E right now.

Discovereads · 29/05/2022 22:16

milkysmum · 29/05/2022 21:50

Looks like there is more hives appearing on her legs now. Will ring GP first thing.

I think you need to take her back to A&E as it is worsening.

Original poster
milkysmum · 29/05/2022 22:16

We left urgent care at around 17.30 and went straight to outbid hours pharmacy.
Doctor prescribed piriton 4mg three times a day and Prednisolone 30mg one a day. She took a dose of Rach on getting home about 18.30 ( and had already had some piriton earlier in day).
Doctor had stressed to take straight to A&E / ring 999 if any swelling to lips again or problems with breathing.

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intwrferingma · 29/05/2022 22:17

Post Covid? My husband came up in hives 5-10 days after testing positive

ScootsMcHoy · 29/05/2022 22:20

I don't t know what rach is but in my

'not a doctor or expert at all' opinion

she should have some liquid antihistamine if she's getting more hives.

Mangofandangoo · 29/05/2022 22:21

My Dd gets hives right after a viral infection. The dr once told me it's the body shedding the virus - has she been unwell?

Hope she is okay Flowers

Original poster
milkysmum · 29/05/2022 22:23

No she's not post COVID. ( well it's 2 years since she had covid anyway..)
I've just been up and given another dose of antihistamine now and will continue to monitor. No concerns now re swelling to lips, throat or with difficulties in breathing, and she is well in herself apart from the hives.

OP posts:
Original poster
milkysmum · 29/05/2022 22:24
  • Rach should have read both - sorry autocorrect at fault!
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KarrotKake · 30/05/2022 20:37

How's your daughter been today, @milkysmum?

Original poster
milkysmum · 30/05/2022 22:10

The hives had come down a lot this morning. Went to GP and arranged bloods for tomorrow for allergy testing.
This evening though out of absolutely nowhere the hives flared up again. No swelling to lips or problems with breathing- just the hives again.

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Original poster
milkysmum · 30/05/2022 22:12

This is them again tonight after they had all but gone this morning!

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