Duration of Hives: What to Expect
Recently, my teenager accidentally sprayed body mist from Bath & Body Works on my 2-year-old, who has no prior health issues. Instantly, she developed hives across her skin and face. We contacted a nursing hotline for advice and have since bathed her in lukewarm water several times, administered Benadryl, and used hydrocortisone cream for relief. Additionally, I applied some previously stored breast milk, which seemed to improve her condition a little before bedtime. However, upon waking up, the hives persisted in various spots on her body. Despite taking Benadryl and using cream, she has been scratching so much that it's causing her to bleed. I had hoped that washing off the irritant would lead to a quick clearing of the rash. How long can I expect the hives to last after eliminating the allergen?
Answers (1)
9/7/2025, 10:40:34 PM
OpenHealth AI
Hives, or urticaria, can be quite distressing for both children and parents, and I understand your concern about your toddler's skin reaction. Given that the hives appeared suddenly after exposure to a body mist, it's likely a reaction to one of the ingredients in the product.
Key Points:
- Duration of Hives: Hives often appear quickly after exposure and can persist for hours to days. In some cases, they may last longer but usually resolve within 24 to 48 hours after removing the trigger, although they can sometimes wax and wane over several days.
- Continued Symptoms: Since your child is still experiencing hives despite treatment, this is common; they might take time to fully clear.
Explanation:
Hives develop as part of an allergic reaction and can be exacerbated by scratching, which may lead to further irritation or secondary infections. While bathing in lukewarm water and applying hydrocortisone helps provide some relief, itching can persist even after the allergen is gone. Benadryl can help reduce itching and swelling, but the effective dose and timing are crucial.
Next Steps:
- Maintain Antihistamine Use: Continue giving Benadryl as directed on the package or by your pediatrician to help relieve itching and swelling. Monitor her for drowsiness.
- Prevent Scratching: To reduce the risk of bleeding from scratching, consider dressing her in lightweight long sleeves and pants. You might also want to keep her nails trimmed short.
- Keep Skin Moisturized: Use a gentle moisturizer (avoiding scented products) to help soothe her skin. This can prevent dryness and additional irritation.
- Cool Compresses: Apply cool, damp cloths to affected areas for short periods to help alleviate itching.
- Monitor Symptoms: Keep track of her symptoms over a few days. If the hives last longer than a week, worsen, or if you notice signs of difficulty breathing, severe swelling, or lethargy, you should seek medical advice immediately.
It sounds like you're doing a great job caring for her, and with time and these measures, her condition should improve. If you have ongoing concerns, please reach out for further guidance.
Related Questions
Seeking Clarity on Recurring Confusion Episodes
(M19) For the past week, I have been experiencing a troubling pattern of confusion. These episodes have been quite frequent, even occurring just yesterday and today. During these moments, I find my thoughts drifting away while I'm attempting to focus on simple tasks. For instance, while preparing ramen, I intended to fetch water but instead opened the fridge. It dawned on me afterward that this wasn’t my actual plan, leaving me puzzled about why I had done that. On another occasion, I nearly opened the fridge again to grab ingredients that would be necessary much later in the cooking process. While working on my homework, I faced another lapse: I meant to copy and paste some text but ended up taking a screenshot instead, which was unnecessary and not what I intended. Today, I had a fleeting thought that my parents had gone out to eat at Chipotle when, in reality, they were just having a meal at Golden Corral; my dad had actually gone to the gym. I should also mention that I struggle with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This week has been particularly overwhelming for me; sometimes I attempt to open Reddit but instead find myself searching for Discord. It’s hard to tell whether my anxiety is exacerbating these episodes of confusion or if there is an underlying mental health issue or a potential physical ailment affecting my brain. I am unsure whether I should seek medical advice regarding these troubling experiences.
Managing Bipolar II with Mixed Features and Co-occurring Alcohol Use Disorder
Greetings to all. I'm a 44-year-old male, standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 240 pounds. I am seeking advice on effective first-line treatment options for someone diagnosed with Bipolar II, particularly when mixed features are involved, alongside a history of significant Alcohol Use Disorder. Although I have successfully maintained control over my alcoholism for the past two years, I feel that I may have already sustained considerable harm. Currently, I am experiencing Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). I would like to know if there are any medication regimens that could assist in re-establishing neurochemical balance and stability for someone with a background of severe alcohol dependency and mixed Bipolar II disorder. At present, my treatment consists of a combination of Seroquel and Ativan, which has brought me the closest to achieving consistent stability. However, I suspect my psychiatrist may not fully recognize the extent of the damage inflicted during my periods of heavy drinking.
Persistent Discharge from Bellybutton
Greetings. I am reaching out regarding my brother's health issues. He is a 36-year-old male weighing 330 pounds. Approximately three weeks ago, he began experiencing a discharge from his bellybutton. This fluid appeared to be a mixture of blood and other substances, which was indicative of an infection. After visiting urgent care, he underwent a culture test that confirmed an infection diagnosed as cellulitis of the umbilicus and omphalitis, specifically not for newborns. The physician prescribed Sulfamethoxazole antibiotics and Mupirocin ointment for a ten-day course. While there was a minor improvement, with the discharge occurring every few days instead of more frequently, the issue persisted. He attended several follow-up appointments, although the professionals he consulted could not provide much additional insight. An ultrasound was performed, yielding normal results, but further scans via a CT were suggested for the future. Subsequently, my brother visited the emergency room, where the physician prescribed Clindamycin 150mg, claiming it would address any additional infections that the previous antibiotic might not have treated. Unfortunately, no scans or cultures were conducted during this visit, as the doctor simply examined the area and adjusted the prescription for a week-long course. Later, urgent care contacted us to inform that a strep infection was also present, advising that he should continue with the prescribed Clindamycin. Although the discharge has ceased, upon cleaning his bellybutton, he still notices fluid accumulation inside. Urgent care wanted to reassess the situation, prompting another visit today. During this appointment, the urgent care physician expressed frustration that the ER had not performed any scans. Additionally, it turned out that the pharmacy provided extra Clindamycin pills, leading to a recommendation to extend the medication for an additional three days. This situation is troubling, as it appears there is some discrepancy and lack of communication between the two medical teams. We remain uncertain about the underlying issue at hand and plan to schedule a visit with his primary physician to discuss obtaining the suggested CT scans. Any advice or reassurance regarding the seriousness of this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your assistance!
Concerns About Chagas After Kissing Bug Bite
My husband, a 46-year-old white male weighing 235 pounds and standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, is on several medications including Wellbutrin (300 mg), Buspar (5 mg), Crestor (10 mg), a multivitamin, and omeprazole. He has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, GERD, and high cholesterol. He quit smoking cigarettes in 2008 and uses marijuana infrequently, along with very occasional alcohol consumption. Recently, he was bitten by what we believe to be a kissing bug. This incident occurred two nights ago while we were in West Virginia, USA. He woke up scratching in the middle of the night and developed a growing welt on his lower hip area. Although he currently has no fever or other noticeable symptoms related to acute Chagas disease, the welt is hard, painful when touched, and continues to itch despite his attempts to scratch it. Since the bite, the swelling has increased. Upon changing the sheets, we discovered a dead bug, which confirmed our suspicion of it being a kissing bug. I am determined to take him to the doctor tomorrow, but I worry that our concerns may be dismissed. I want to ensure he receives blood tests for Chagas at least twice, as I am anxious about the timing of the tests being too early or too late, potentially resulting in a false negative. I need guidance on a few points: **What is the optimal timeframe for testing? What specific questions should I pose to the medical professionals? Is there any preventive treatment they can offer him in case the bug was a carrier of the parasite before the blood tests? What additional information should we be aware of?** Moreover, I would appreciate any advice on how to get the insect tested. I plan on reaching out to our local health department, but I'm concerned that we may not receive the attention we need due to our location not being considered a common area for such incidents. Articles I've read indicate that awareness of Chagas is low, as is the tracking of these cases, suggesting that it might be more widespread than known. While I understand that not all kissing bugs harbor the parasite and that transmission is not guaranteed, I am deeply worried about the possibility of missing a diagnosis and the opportunity to treat him during the acute phase should he indeed be infected.
Concerns About My Toddler's Ongoing Ear Infection
Age: 21 months Gender: Male Weight: 28 lbs Duration of Symptoms: One week Affected Area: Ear Preexisting Medical Conditions: Bell’s Palsy Current Medications: Cefdinir, Tylenol, Ibuprofen I’m feeling quite anxious about my little boy, who is just 21 months old. He was diagnosed with an ear infection and conjunctivitis about a week ago. Initially, the physician prescribed amoxicillin, which successfully treated the pink eye and alleviated some issues in one ear. However, the infection in the other ear hasn't improved. Recently, they switched his medication to cefdinir, yet he continues to experience severe discomfort, waking up in distress during the night. Complicating matters is that he has Bell’s palsy on the same side as the problematic ear, making it challenging to administer his medication as it often leaks from his mouth. Following the doctor’s instructions, I've been rotating his doses of Tylenol and ibuprofen, but it doesn't seem to provide sufficient relief. Additionally, he has a decreased appetite and hydration, and overall, he appears quite unhappy. I'm unsure whether it's typical to still see such symptoms while waiting for cefdinir to take effect or if it would be wise to return to the clinic. How long should I expect it to take for this medication to start working? Is it common for him to still be in pain after switching treatments? Are there additional measures I can take to enhance his comfort during this time?