Buzz Off Hives

As a mother, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on my job. I feel comfortable enough giving solicited advice to my friends. Although I only have 4 years experience, I feel like I roll with the punches most days.

I think most of the real learning as a parent comes that first year. By two years you feel pretty efficient as a parent. A strong resume in your back pocket.

Well, I have a new notch in my knowledge belt. Time for a Mommy PSA.

A little over two weeks ago my precious babes came down with a nasty stomach virus. Mr Blue Eyes was barely effected, slight loss of appetite and a couple messy diapers. My poor Brown Eyed Girl was not so fortunate.

My Brown Eyed Girl came down with diarrhea on a Friday. She was vomiting by Saturday, both on Sunday (now refusing to eat or drink anything), and some residual diarrhea Monday. I was sure she was on the mend but I still stayed home with her on Monday to just make sure she was over the hump.

Mid-morning, my beautiful Brown Eyed Girl said her feet were itchy and she asked me if I would rub her feet with lotion. I was more than happy to give my poor, gaunt little girl a bit of relaxing mommy time.

I placed a dab of lotion in the palm of my hand and as I cupped her tiny little feet I felt my mouth gape open in shock. My poor little girl was covered in welts.

The hives resided on the tops of her feet, progressing up to her shins.

The hives were itchy and very painful.

A dose of Benadryl and we were off to the shower.

My first thought was something was irritating her skin and causing the breakout. At that time this was the only place she had hives. While she stood in the shower I scoured the couch, vacuumed everywhere, threw the dog outside, and mentally ran over every possible cause in my head. We hadn't changed detergent. She hadn't eaten anything in two days let alone anything new. What on earth could it be?

After her shower and dressed with fresh, clean clothes, my Brown Eyed Girl seemed to be feeling better. I started scrounging around the kitchen for lunch when she started crying from the couch. She said, "Mommy! Now my hands are itching."

Something was not jiving here. I had just bathed her and she did not have welts on her hands. Not to mention, she had been given Benadryl a little more than 30 minutes ago.

To keep her from itching, I wrapped her little hands in cool, damp washcloths. I had the pediatrician on speed dial. 

While I waited for the nurse to call me back so I could schedule the doctor to see her, the hives began spreading rapidly.

I started freaking out calmly checked her torso, neck and face for hives. She had none. I told my sweet Brown Eyed Girl to tell Mommy right away if her throat or her face felt itchy. The hives seemed to just be isolated on her lower extremities.

After an hour, the Benadryl kicked in and she fell asleep. Unfortunately, it did little for her hives. Her hives gradually subsided. We were able to get her into the doctor that afternoon and (take notes parents) I found out that the most common cause of hives, especially in children, is actually due to a viral infection. A variety of viruses can cause hives, even routine cold viruses. The hives seem to appear as the immune system begins to clear the infection, sometimes a week or more after the illness begins. The hives usually persist for a week or two and then disappear.

We were directed to start our Brown Eyed Girl on a daily dose of Zyrtec (a stronger antihistamine that Benadryl.) I was relieved to know that this was not life threatening.

Our Brown Eyed Girl had also lost 10% of her body weight in 4 days. We all hoped she would be on the mend soon. She was gaunt and you could count every rib on her.

After a few days, her appetite came back. I am pretty sure she also collided with a growth spurt because she suddenly was eating us out of house and home. I gladly refilled her bowl. I was just so happy she was feeling better. And no more bumps! Or so we thought...

After about a week on the Zyrtec, I figured she was feeling so well and was over the sickness. Later that afternoon... bumps. Back on Zyrtec.

After two weeks, I skipped a dose of Zyrtec and the next day at daycare I get this picture...

 

Back to the doctor we went. 

Apparently left to run its coarse, hives from a virus can last up to 6 weeks. I was looking for a better solution. The doctor prescribed a dose of steroids for her. We finished our last dose yesterday and so far... no bumps. 

It has been quite the ordeal. I had no idea that your body could essentially have an allergic reaction to a virus. 

Fingers crossed we are on the mend now.