Hives

What are hives?

Hives are raised, itchy, red bumps (swellings) on the skin. They can be of different sizes and can appear anywhere on your child’s body.

Hives

Signs and symptoms of hives

Hives can either be acute or chronic. Acute hives appear suddenly and last for only a few hours or days. Chronic hives can last more than 6 weeks and for as long as months or even years at a time.

Hives may look like:

• red or white, raised swellings or welts of various sizes (they can range from a few millimeters to a few centimeters long)
• one single welt or swelling covering a large area of the skin
• a group of welts that disappear and appear again

A child with hives may also have:

• severe itching
• burning, stinging, or prickliness in the area of the swellings

Causes

Hives are caused by inflammation in the skin. In most cases, hives are often associated with an allergic reaction to certain foods or medications. The most common allergies that trigger hives are:

• medications
• food such as shellfish, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, and food additives
• other allergens like animal dander, insect stings, or pollen

Rarely, hives can be a part of anaphylactic shock, which is a severe, and sometimes fatal, allergic reaction.

Take your child to the nearest Emergency Department, or call 9-1-1, if your child has any of the following symptoms:

• trouble breathing
• swelling, particularly of the face, throat, lips, and tongue in cases of food allergies
• rapid drop in blood pressure
• dizziness
• unconsciousness
• hives
• tightness of the throat
• hoarse voice
• lightheadedness
• received epinephrine, since the symptoms can start again hours after the epinephrine is given

Please see Allergies for more information.  

What you can do to help your child with hives

If your child keeps getting hives, try to see if the episodes have a common factor, such as a particular food, medication, or place. If you have an idea what might be triggering the hives, tell your child's doctor during your next visit.  

If your child is having an attack of hives, you can give your child an oral antihistamine, which may relieve the symptoms. Your child's doctor or pharmacist can suggest a product. Ask your child's doctor how long to give the antihistamine after the rash has disappeared.

What your child’s doctor can do for your child with hives

Your doctor may help you isolate the cause of the hives by a series of skin or blood tests. If the skin irritation is severe, the doctor may also prescribe an oral corticosteroid to reduce the inflammation.

When to seek medical assistance

See a doctor or go to an Emergency Department right away if your child:

• has facial or lip swelling
• has any difficulty breathing
• collapses

Key points

• Hives are raised, itchy, red swellings of different sizes that appear on the skin.
• Seek medical assistance right away if you suspect the hives are a symptom of anaphylactic shock.
• Allergic reactions to medications, food, or other allergens often cause hives.
• An oral antihistamine can usually ease the hives.
• Make an appointment with your child’s doctor if your child keep getting hives.