Seeking Answers - Wallingford,CT

Does the rash look red, irritated and is it itchy? My son had this across his back, bottom and a little on his face. I tried hydrocortisone cream and it did nothing. His doctor didn't know what it was either and prescribed me a rash ointment to clear up a bacterial infection. Thankfully it completely went away within a week.

How long has he been taking the Allegra? It may take a few days for it to work. Does the rash itch? If so use a steroid cream on it.

This is not an emergency. It is extremely unlikely that his throat will swell up. Do not take him to the ER. After reassuring you they will just tell you to take him to his doctor. They are not trained in allergies. They would probably advice you in the same way your doctor did. You won't know any more and have another bill.

I have multiple allergies as did my aunt and now my grandaughter. Usually when I get hives on my body my mouth and throat are not involved my mouth and throat get itchy when I eat food to which I'm allergic or have a sensitivity to. I don't also get hives.

Just know that if this an allergy or not it may take time for the doctor to figure it out.

I suggest you call his doctor and ask what the next step is. He may refer you to an allergist or he may try a different approach.

Another mom suggested benedryl. My granddaughter's doctor recommended that. Both my granddaughter and I use that for allergic reactions. The hives, itchy throat always go away with 1-2 doses.

I'd take him to the ER so they can give him a shot of steroids and a better prescription. If he goes to sleep during the night his throat or tongue might swell up and he won't be able to breath.

No way I wouldn't take an allergy reaction like you're describing to the ER right now.

When I was in high school I developed hives on my whole body. They prescribed allegra and claritin, and eventually we discovered that I get hives when I'm too hot. Nowadays I mostly get them around my elbows and knees instead of whole body. One thing that helped me was lukewarm oatmeal baths, I bought the oatmeal bath stuff at Walgreens, and still used it for my daughter, since they have a diaper rash version.

I don't know if any of that will help your son, honestly, if it's gone on for a few days with no change, I'd take him back.

Please listen to the post by Gamma below. A whole-body rash? Get him to the emergency room now or call the doctor's office and insist hard that they see him today, right now, so they can observe the rash while it's this bad. It may be an allergy or hives but you don't know that for sure, and if it's an allergic reaction, he could end up with breathing difficulties--I agree with Gamma there.

Did he have a rash on his WHOLE body and face when the doctor saw him? Did the doctor inspect his entire body or just what showed outside his clothes--? Was your son tested for any allergies or were you just told "allergies" and handed a prescription? I would question how quickly the doctor handled this. If the doctor did not even mention sending your son for testing by an allergist -- I would get your son seen by someone today and then dump your regular doctor after this.

A.,

Welcome to mamapedia!!

I'm sorry - if your child has a WHOLE BODY RASH??? I would not be using Allegra - i would be taking my child to the closest Urgent Care or ER....NOW...

Allegra is an anti-histamine but it's meant more for seasonal allergies...Benadryl is an anti-histamine as well and is for allergic reactions as well as seasonal allergies.

Get your son to the Urgent Care NOW..please...

Could be a virus. A dermatologist would be the one to see IMO.

You don't give us a time frame. How long has he had the rash? How long has he been on the meds. The mamas on here who are freaking out over an allergic reaction aren't listening to you - you took him to a doctor! Good for you. If it does not seem to be working call the doctor back and let them know you need to come back in. Allergic reactions can be very difficult to diagnose. A skin rash very rarely leads right to breathing issues - if it will it usually happens quickly. This has clearly been going on long enough for you to have already seen a doctor, gotten a scrip and determined the med is not working.... that emergent window has already passed. So, don't freak out. Call your doctor and tell them the med is not working and you'd like to come back in and see if there is something more that you can do. (This may include discussing foods, soaps, laundry detergent etc etc etc....)

Hello! I don't think other responders aren't listening, they heard that you took your son to a doctor, it sounds like they are concerned.

I do agree, you've not given enough information. What does the rash look like? Does your son have a fever? How long has this been going on?

My concern would be if he's having trouble breathing, then I would take him to an ER.

Without further information, I don't know how to help you.

I don't know the whole story, but allegra does not seem like the right thing for a WHOLE body rash! Has he been sick or on antibiotics or any other medications? I had a whole body rash as a severe reaction to sulfa drugs. My son had a whole body rash, palms included, as a reaction to an antibiotic. In both cases, we were given benadryl and steroids. If this rash does not disappear immediately, I would be headed the ER!