Daughter Came Home from Camp W/ Hives

Updated on August 06, 2008
L.S. asks from Carmichael, CA
29 answers

My nine year old daughter came home from camp with a HORRIBLE case of hives. The hives cover her entire body and in many places they are huge welts. My thermometer is not working, but it seems like she might have a temp. I don't know of any food allergies she has and am wracking my brain about what could have caused this. This is her first time at camp and I know maybe it could be nerves, but I wouldn't imagine that nerves would cause such a terrible case of hives! Have any of you ever had your children ever gotten a case of hives from being in the mountains. Besides worrying about what caused the problem, I'm also wondering if anyone knows of a pretty good way to make my daughter more comfortable. I been giving her benedryl and Aveeno baths. I am very open to any alternative medicine remedies. Thanks in advance!!

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much to everyone that replied. This site and the parents that use this site are so great! We took our daughter in the day after I posted my request and the doctor felt like the hives were a result of a virus she said she had been seeing in her office. We've been giving her Zytec during the day and bendryl at night. I'm not so sure it is a virus and have a feeling it may have something to do with a milk allergy. We're currently checking out that theory by eliminating it from her diet for awhile. Thanks again, everyone!

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K.T.

answers from San Francisco on

The hives can be about anything from a newly developed food allergy, to a contact allergy (pollens), to a virus. My kids have had hives from something blowing in the wind that they were allergic to. My son and daughter can lay in the grass and get hives. My daughter has had hives that the doctors thought was a food allergy, and in the long run it ended up being a virus.

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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

It could be nerves and the stress of being away and missing her home.... add some probiotics in to the diet.

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

You might want to try an aloe vera plant. It gave me great relief from itching--just slice open the leaves and lay the plant leaves right on the skin. It even seems to absorbs the heat from the inflamation.

I hope it helps out--Mary

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L.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi L.,
Yes, nerves can cause this. A quick and easy Energy process called TAT can be helpful.
The instructions are on the TAT for Life website.

The metaphor of hives (from Louis Hay:You can Heal your Life) is Hidden Fears and mountains out of molehills. Other authors say feeling mistreated, wanting to protest but can't and anger when perceiving someone with inflexible behavior. This sound like a first camp experience for some kids.

TAT is GREAT for regaining the feeling safeness. If this seems like too much to do, please give me a call and I would be happy to walk you through the protcal. There are a few little tricks with kids...

Warmly
L.
My Higher Good

1 mom found this helpful
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J.A.

answers from San Francisco on

I agree with everyone here, you're doing the right thing L..
I would also like to add- you can also give your daughter a cool bath with baking soda. Perhaps a 1/4 - 1/2 cup while the waters running. My skin gets so sensitive, and I grew up with eczema and rash and hives when I was a little girl. I still break out in hives from environmental and stress factors!
Please take her in to double check the poison oak factor...there is nothing worse! You can also use the old fashioned liquid starch (called Vano?) and apply that with a q-tip on the welts...versus traditional otc meds. Good luck, no scratching, and do keep us posted.
J.

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S.E.

answers from San Francisco on

You're doing the right stuff.

I would take her to the dr. just to be sure it's not something more serious and maybe get some prescription relief for her.

Good luck and keep us posted on the progress,
Stephanie

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A.C.

answers from San Francisco on

it sounds like she's got a nice case of either poison ivy or poison oak. I'd suggest seeing a doctor asap to make sure though. as the other poster said poison oak can leave scars AND can make them sick.

My youngest has really sensative skin and the one time I used Tide powder instead of my usual liquid he broke out with a rash all over and over the counter benadryl wasn't working. They ended up giving him a shot of benedryl and within a few hours he was MUCH better.

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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Make sure that it is not poison oak. Poison oak can leave scars if you are not careful. Even if it is not, if you have a rash over a large percentage of your body, or if you have a rash on hands, face or "privates", you should see a doctor right away. Like today right away.

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S.S.

answers from Yuba City on

Hi L.. Does the aveeno have oatmeal in it? If so perfect. I also like to put calamine lotion..they make it in a clear formula now. You may want to take her to the Dr., my sister just got a case of hives very similiar to your daughter although hers was from medication but she went to the Dr and apparently it was bad enough that she had to take steroidal medicine to clear it up!! Hope she feels better soon. Good luck!

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J.E.

answers from San Francisco on

Tea tree oil works great. I work with a company that uses the purest, most concentrated oil available and we have several products that can be used to calm and eliminate hives almost instantly. You can find tea tree oil other places, but if you are interested in checking out a full line of products that use no harsh chemicals, can save you money and work great, then check out my website. If you request more information, I would be happy to contact you with more details. www.SwitchingStores.info.
J.

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I used to get hives all the time when I was about her age. Mine were usually casued by something in the air, but nerves would casue them as well. an antihistimine and some calamine lotion usually took care of them. Good luck!

L.

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E.W.

answers from Sacramento on

I would suggest taking her to the doctor as soon as possible. It may not be a big deal, but she may be having an allergic reaction. When I was a kid, I went to a horse camp and after one night there, they had to call my parents to come pick me up and take me home because I got a red itchy rash (sounds similar). They took me to the ER and the doctors gave me a steroid shot and put me on a course of steroids for 10 days (I think, I was a kid so I don't remember every little detail). I do remember that the doctors said I might be allergic to horses or to mice or to mice poop (we had to clean out the barns). I had ridden horses before and had never had an allergic reaction before so they thought it must be something else. Since your daughter was in the woods, she could've come into contact with any kind of plant or animal and may be having a reaction. Just my two cents.
Best wishes and take care!

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D.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Was she in the sun a lot? Near water? As a teenager, I started getting hives if I was in the sun for more than one day at a time. My skin is very sensitive and too much sun would just pop those little babies out all over my face and body. The one over-the-counter medicine that worked for me was Lanicort. I'm not sure if it is still on the market, but I would put a little dab on each hive and it would stop the itching and go down.

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G.O.

answers from San Francisco on

Please do take your daughter to a doctor today, even if you need to go to the emergency room.
If it turns out to be poison oak the doctor will probably prescribe prednisone ( a steroid). Prednisone is an intense medication and can cause mood swings (usually manic energy in the beginning and then depression as the doses decrease) but for a case of poison oak that covers over 50% of the body it is essential, and the sooner she starts taking it, the better.
Another possible cause of hives could be chicken pox; my friend's son had hives on top of the pox...benedryl was prescribed.
I hope that it's not either of the above, but it's best to have it checked out and rule out those possibilities. I hope your daughter feels more comfortable soon; it's so awful to see our children in distress. Good luck.

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

My next door neighbor recently had this happen to him (he's 8) and his mom couldn't figure it out. It turned out that he had a virus that came out first as hives (he didn't have a fever initially). He was fine for about a week after the hives, then he had strep. Apparently, his doctor said that this is common. I'd give your doc a call and keep an eye on her. And there's great advice below for making her more comfortable in the meantime. Good luck! And take care!

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N.J.

answers from San Francisco on

L.: Please do not hesitate to call your doctor. Hives can be very dangerous (internal ones can interfere with breathing.) I do get hives from time to time and used to carry a kit to help in case I went into anaphylactic shock.

Perhaps she has poison oak which looks a lot like hives especially if all over her body. Do get medical help just so you know for sure and it will help in future as well.

Grandma N.

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D.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Your daughter may have a rash rather than hives, and taking her temperature to determine if she has a fever is the first thing you should do. She may have a bacterial or viral infection that needs immediate treatment, so do not delay in speaking to your health care professional. Nature is not called "the wilds" for nothing! Good luck, and go find a working thermometer right now!

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A.W.

answers from San Francisco on

I would have a doctor check it out. Could it be an allergy? I am allergic to chemical sunscreens, so I have to use the kinds that are mineral based (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide). I found out the hard way, lathering my body with the chemical sunscreens, and got the worst rash all over. Could they be bug bites? I've been covered in mosquito bites (huge welts) from head to toe - my eyes swollen shut, between my fingers and toes, everywhere! It was horrible. For itching and inflammation, try Florasone, a natural homeopathic alternative to cortisone. It really works! Got mine at Whole Foods. I just used some on my son, who had a mosquito in his room the other night, and the itching was immediately relieved and the swelling was significantly down by the next morning.

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S.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi L.,
My son has had hives many times before. He used to play football and get it from the grass. He has also had them once due to an alergy of medication. My daughter also breaks out from certain lotions and actually even alivera (spelling) While Benedryl may work for awhile, I would have her seen by her doctor. She may need something stronger. You may rack your brain trying to figure out what caused it and actually never even know. Nerves can be a factor as well. Cold compresses work too. It does ease the swelling and make it a little more comfortable. I hope she feels better soon.

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M.M.

answers from San Francisco on

L., I would take her to the doctor and make sure they are indeed hives! If it is an allergy, it could be through contact, food, insect bites . . .
And - get a new thermometer. :o)

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

Dear L.,
I am so sorry your daughter came home from camp not feeling well. Are you sure it's hives?
I went to camp and we all went on a night walk. We were separated into two groups. My group started out first and we were having fun along the trail naming the constellations, etc. We saw the lanterns and flashlight and heard the voices of the second group coming along behind us. Our counsellors got the neat idea to be quiet, turn our lights out, hide in the bushes and scare the second group.
I sure wish I'd been in the second group. The worst I might have been was frightened. The counselors in the second group didn't think it was all that funny and had the where-with-all to flash their lights on the bushes we had jumped out of. It was poison oak. They immediately marched us back to put us in showers and have us wash with special soap. It didn't help me. I had poison oak so bad that I had to be taken to the hospital.
My daughter, when she was little, broke out all over and I immediately took her to the doctor. They said she had chicken pox. I gave her benadryl, just wrapped her in a cool sheet and figured we were in for a long haul until she got over it. The next day...there was not one single spot on her. THAT was hives.
You can try calomine. You can try making a paste out of baking soda or putting it in the bath.
But, it might not be hives. I don't know if you have taken her to the doctor, but they have medicine that can help clear it up.
It turns out that I was so allergic to poison oak that I had to take pills every summer even if I went to visit my Grandpa where it gets really hot and I never got out of the yard. If it was in the air or someone was burning it, I had it. And I had never had poison oak until camp.
I hope she'll be feeling better soon. I feel for her. I really do.
Best of wishes.

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C.E.

answers from Sacramento on

I am a cronic suffer of hives. Been tested and put on allegra and other meds. This happened terribly right after my c-section of my second son and was on pain meds that had an asprin type drug and wearing those rubberized pants. Fifteen years scince I cant wear band aids , anything to tight, doctors couldn't find exactly. I have noticed nothing with cilantro, asprin, but my biggest outbreaks are when I am stressed. When I have a fever, menstral cycle, coming down with another flu my body just wigs out. I have been put on a series og prednisone and benedryl but that is harsh. Now for advice see her Dr. benedryl makes you sleepy but there is also claritin melt away tabs. aveeno did not seem to work for me. Keep her cool and dry. I know they are a terrible burden.
Hope she does better.Feel free to ask more if I can help.

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L.P.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi L.,
Is it possible that she could have gotten poison oak/ivy?
From the description it kinda sounds like that to me??
Try a skin cleanser. Not soap. You can purchase it at any drug store, in the skin remedy aisle.It cleanses the plant oil from the skin that causes the rash. Works great!!!! I am so sorry I can not think of the name of it right now but the pharmacy can help you..Looks like a white bottle with green leaves on it,possibly red writing?? I hate when you KNOW something but can't remeber it exactly....shoot
Hope this helps...Good Luck
L.

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C.M.

answers from Fresno on

Please make sure it isn't poison ivy or poison oak, or she hasn't developed a Berry allergy, and tell her not to scratch w/hands or fingers, and if she does, wash hands w/ lots of soap and water. Have her shower w/ a very soft wash cloth and a good dandruff shampoo, rubbing gently w/ wash cloth(Mom help her w/back and shouders) Rinse really good. Pat dry,don't rub. Pat a good brand of some sort of itch relief
cream on all the hives, have her wear loose clothing as much as possible so her skin can have air. And Honey, please don't
scratch, it might make scars. And if you don"t see any improvement in about 3 days call a Dr. Best of Luck........C.

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B.R.

answers from Sacramento on

I don't have a lot to add, but just had to respond. I doubt this is the cause of your daughter's particular case of hives, but my adult daughter was having a lot of problems a year or two ago. She suffered terrible for 8 months or more with random outbreaks of hives all over her body, and was going through Benadryl like crazy. One day, she happened to think that the one factor that seemed to remain the same every time she broke out was that she'd eaten some corn or corn product shortly before it happened. She began experimenting and found out that she did have an allergy to corn. Now, look at the ingredients on all the products you purchase and see how easy it's NOT to buy things that haven't had "high fructose corn syrup" added to them. After a year or more of her reading labels like crazy and avoiding everything that has that particluar additive, it is looking like she may be able to start enjoying corn on the cob, corn chips and popcorn on a limited basis again. Needless to say, our family is on a 'get the corn syrup out of our food' kick. (and me, a good Iowa farm girl.. that hurts!) LOL!

I also noticed the post from the lady who deals with a product line containing tea tree oil. I don't know if it's the same line of products I use, (wish the link had given a company name) but I can vouch for the oil or one of the products made with it being good. You might want to check out her link or contact me and I'll get you in touch with the people with whom I deal. I think her link is probably the same company, just not sure.

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M.P.

answers from San Francisco on

I have sensitive skin, so I have gotten hives for years for aall different reasons. I used to get them once every spring, a reaction to the pollen. I became allergic to OTC pain relievers except Tylenol (read the label, it says may cause swelling). And in late high school and college I got them from stress, almost every day! The Benadryl works, but on the really bad cases, most important is to stay super cool, because the hotter you are, the itchier you are. I used to lay in shorts and a tank top directly under/in front of a fan and drink water/eat popsicles all day long.

I also agree with the other posters....you should get this checked out to make sure it isn't anything worse (and to see if they will give something to make it go away). If this is her first time in a camp like setting though, it sounds to me like she found a new allergy. Good Luck :-)

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M.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Lots of great ideas from everyone, but I have just two to add...Sarna Lotion makes itchy skin feel better, you can buy it at a drugstore. If you want homeopathic, I've tried Hyland's Hives formula, but not sure it worked or if hives just went away on their own. I've also taken prescription Atarax for feeling insanely itchy, and it works to ease your mind from the itchies! Take her to the doctor and see what the doctor says is best. I hope she feels better soon. My daughter gets hives from an allergy to red dye #40. There is no test for it, but we know because it was horrible once after a gooey strawberry pie.

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J.B.

answers from Sacramento on

Depending on where she went to camp, she might have poison oak not hives. Check with the camp to see if there is poison oak at their location. Good luck.

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V.T.

answers from Redding on

I have suffered from cystic hives my whole life and can attest to the fact that there are innumerable potential sources: clothing, soaps, lotions, detergents, plant material, insects, certain minerals or deposits in dirt, additives or an overabundance of some minerals in water ... it's impossible to name them all. As a result I make a product called Rash Relief in my natural products line that does the trick. Works for virtually any skin irritation, cutting the itching almost immediately and calming the irritation in record time. I make it in an oil and a lotion ... I'd probably recommend the oil for her to get it deeper into the skin faster. Please let me know if you'd like a sample or check out my website: www.mccluckfarms.com

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