This image displays urticaria (hives) on the palms. This image displays widespread urticaria (hives).  This image displays urticaria (hives). This image displays urticaria (hives) due to an allergic reaction. This image displays a red area of swelling on the foot typical of urticaria. Urticaria (hives) can consist of large areas of redness and welt-like skin lesions. This image displays pink areas of a rash surrounded by lighter areas (due to constriction of blood vessels) typical of urticaria (hives). This image displays widespread urticaria (hives) involving the face. This image displays the pink and light red patches typical of urticaria. This image displays how urticaria (hives) often looks lighter in the center of the welts. This image displays welts and large hair follicle openings caused by swelling from urticaria (hives).
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Hives (Urticaria)  A parent's guide to condition and treatment information

Picture of Hives (Urticaria): This image displays urticaria (hives) on the palms. Divider line
This image displays urticaria (hives) on the palms.
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Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
After confirming that your child has hives, the doctor will work with you and your child to discover the possible cause. The doctor will take a detailed medical history and may do blood tests, urine tests, or X-rays.

Obviously, the best treatment for hives is to discover any triggers and stop your child's exposure to them. However, most people with hives do not know the cause, and they require medications to get rid of the hives.

The most common medications for hives include:
  • Sleep-causing (sedating) type-1 antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, or cetirizine
  • Non-sleep-causing (non-sedating) type-1 antihistamines such as loratadine, fexofenadine, or desloratadine
  • Type-2 antihistamines such as anitidine, cimetidine, or famotidine
  • Doxepin
  • Montelukast, zafirlukast, or zileuton
In rare situations, the doctor might prescribe a short course of oral corticosteroid pills.


Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008