For 2 nights running Ds1 has had an itchy rash - what I would call Hives, all over hisbody

[saltireflyingatHampden]

Last night it was all over his chest, back, legs, arms. I gave him some Phenergan to stop the tiching. haven't a clue what caused it, he's never had anything like it before. Tonight - the same. Luckily I had got some Piriton/piriteze whatever it's called medicine and gave him some. What can be causing it though

could be chicken pox. My wee on has just come out in spots all over. V itchy and on chest, back legs, neck. Have put calamine lotion on to help with itching and a wee but of piriton

I get that once in a while, comes from nowhere, itches like crazy, then disappears.

Sometimes I think it's stress related. Sometimes I can't guess what causes it.

It disappeared though by this morning, then came back about an hour after he got into bed. no change of washing powder, food etc

No Biggy - wonder about stress. Having a lot of problems with him at the minute, started a thread yesterday about his behaviour

Short answer is almost anything - google 'urticaria'. He's reacting to something - ould be food, could be heat, could be pressure, could be a bug, could even be stress. Hives may go on for days/weeks after a single exposure - definition of 'chronic' is > 6 weeks, I think. You may never find out the cause, although if he's eaten/encountered anything new recently or is still being exposed to something new, watch out for that. Also keep an eye out for any face/lips/tongue/throat swelling as that could be dangerous (airway, obviously). How old is he? Dunking hands/feet in cold water can help with some of the worst itching. Much sympathy as it's a real pain if it hangs around - hard to get sleep.

I'd dose him with Piriton over a couple of days because when dd1 gets it, it comes and goes over a week and only dosing with Piriton gets rid of it - you have to do it consistently rather than as a reaction to the rash. It's usually worse at bedtime because of the heat. dd1 gets it from pineapples and raspberries, she also reacts to Chloramphenical eye drops.

I think I may ahve the answer to the itching. A couple of weeks ago they had put some slices of bread into containers to grow mould. Thursday and Friday (the 2 nights he got the itching) he had been looking at thema nd handling them at school. Maybe a long shot but the only thing I can think of!

Sounds as likely as anything else! Is he allergic to penicillin? Penicillin and bread mould are similar I think and it would v. important to know about a penicillin allergy.