Self-Care Guidelines
If your child is experiencing mild hives, you might have him or her:
- Take cool showers
- 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 and avoid any triggers of your child's hives.
When to Seek Medical Care
If your child's hives make it difficult to breathe or swallow or if your child feels lightheaded, call 911.
In other, non-urgent, situations, see your child's 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 child's 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 your child may have taken recently. Also, recall any recent illnesses your child might have had, since some illnesses (or their treatments) can trigger hives.
Signs and Symptoms
