For most people, they are not serious. Hives are the body's response to an irritation Picture 1. The cause trigger may be non-allergic or allergic. Non-allergic hives are the most common type. Usually, their exact cause is unknown. Some causes of non-allergic hives are:. Allergic hives have a known cause, but are less common. Some causes of allergic hives are:. If your child has trouble breathing, swallowing or talking, nausea or vomiting, or swelling of the mouth or lips, get emergency treatment immediately.
These are early symptoms of anaphylaxis , which can be life-threatening. Call or take your child to the nearest emergency department. The goal of treatment is to control the itching and avoid things that may trigger hives to get worse or come back. For mild hives:. Although hives can be frustrating, they are usually not life-threatening. It is important to stay calm so your child does not become more anxious and uncomfortable.
Apply cool compresses. Wear loose-fitting clothes. Avoid strenuous activity. Use an over-the-counter antihistamine such as diphenhydramine or loratadine. In addition, try to discover what is triggering your hives and avoid whatever it might be. In particular, pay attention to any new foods that were ingested or new medications that were started. Call if you are feeling lightheaded or are having difficulty breathing or swallowing associated with your hives.
In non-urgent situations with hives, see your doctor if the hives do not improve with treatment or if they continue to appear for more than a few days. Before visiting your doctor, try to notice what might be triggering your hives and whether it improves or worsens with exposure to heat, cold, pressure, or vibration. Take a list of every medication prescription or over-the-counter , supplement, or herbal remedy you may have taken recently. Also, recall any recent illnesses you may have had since some illnesses or their treatments can trigger hives.
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Contact Us Locate a Specialist Sitemap. Autoimmunity Drug allergy Food allergy Food other adverse reactions Immune system Immunodeficiencies Insect allergy bites and stings Other allergies. Home Patients Allergy and the skin Hives urticaria.
Hives Urticaria Hives the common term for urticaria , are pink or red itchy rashes, that may appear as blotches or raised red lumps wheals , on the skin. Can hives occur anywhere else? Hives are rarely due to a serious underlying disease Whilst a clear cause of hives in not obvious in many cases, causes may include: Infection from a virus is the most common cause of hives in children, especially if they last for more than 24 hours.
Contact allergy to plants or animals may cause localized hives. Physical urticaria is due to one or more "physical" causes. The most common reason for long-lasting hives is dermographism. These hives appear within a few minutes of scratching along an area of skin. Most often, the rash is linear, following the path taken by the act of scratching. Delayed pressure urticaria is swelling that appears on areas of constant pressure from belts and constricting clothing such as sock bands.
Cold urticaria from exposure to low temperature followed by re-warming can be severe and life threatening if there is a generalized body cooling, for example after a plunge into a swimming pool. Sun-induced urticaria may occur within a few minutes after exposure to the sun. In some cases, the cause is clear.
A person ingests nuts or fish, and then develops hives within a few minutes or possibly a couple of hours. Some cases require a more detailed history from an Allergist to help figure out the cause.
A single episode of uncomplicated hives does not usually need extensive testing. If the reaction involves respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath, throat closing or tongue swelling, then the patient should be immediately brought to the emergency department.
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