I posted a week ago about my son's hands swelling up with a light red rash. It happened again yesterday and now it's worse. I now know he is having an allergic reaction to something at his school. I quizzed him like crazy last night and could not figure out what he was getting into. He does have food allergies but I pack his food for him. Although one teacher does bring in outside treats. They didn't do any art activites, he didn't play with any plants outside, no pets in the classroom, no cooking and he didn't wear latex gloves. He told me he only played with a red airplane in the lego center and practiced writting his name. He did change classrooms at the end of the day. But he said it happened before he went to that room. Any suggestions on what it could be? Also if your child has this can you tell me what to expect? Will it get worse everytime?
**Sorry forgot to mention the soap. I did ask if they changed the soap or if he was using two different kinds and the owner of the childcare center said no. He also said they hadn't changed soap dispensers. They are also looking into what it could be.
Is he taking any antibiotics for something else? My hands did this when I was allergic to the antibiotics I was taking. Just a thought.
Playdo (sp?) contains wheat and some paints contain egg products. If he's allergic to either of those things, maybe that's the cause. Maybe some residue of either of those was on something even if they didn't do an art project. Maybe he rubbed his hands on a table or a painting?
It's probably not a food as it would affect more than his hands. It could be anything from the fertilizer on the grass, to a particular chemical cleaner they use to clean the toys and tables. My daughter has chemical sensitivities so we are very aware. Here is a link to Dr. Rapps' website. She has some great information and books on the subject.
Hope this helps!
P. H
Wellness Coach
Do his teachers let the kids use the liquid hand sanitizers? Maybe he's sensitive to something in that. Or, maybe the soap in the bathrooms.
Check into the hand sanitizing gels. Most schools use these a lot. I have heard things about kids licking theri fingers or rubbing their bodies and some can be sensitive to it. Check it out,can't hurt!
It could be the hand soap. Brand may not have changed but the company formula could have. I would go to a good health food store and find a natural hand soap for him, or you can make your own. Receipes are all over the net.
My son did the same thing when he was little. I took him to the Dr. & found out it was "scabbies". It is small microscopic bugs that you can't see with the naked eye. They get on your hands & feet & around your waste, kind of like chigger's. They are spreadable, he had gotton them somewhere on vacation. He was given a steroid ointment for the cure.Blessings..D. P.
I actually do something similar that is triggered by nasal allergies, say if something new has blown into the area, or a particular pollen count is high. If it gets bothersome, you might contact his doctor. They might suggest allergy testing. For me, Zyrtec daily (which is now OTC) keeps 95% of my rashes/hives at bay.
Good Luck.
Could it be the cleaner they use to clean tables, bathroom or maybe the toys or buckets the toys are in. Also what about carpet fresh or some type of carpet cleaner. since it's on his hands only its probably what he is touching more so then eating. Hope this helps.
PS. does bendryl take the rash and swelling away?
Is he by any chance using chalk? Newspaper print? My hands are very sensitive to both of these - especially when I was younger... Is he wiping his hands with any towels that have been recently washed with bleach? Is the teacher using a different disinfectant on the toys? Clorox wipes? Keep searching! Good luck!
Could he be coming into contact with a food residue on the toy played with another child? If it is peanut butter for example, that is very sticky and would easily get onto a toy if another child didn't wash their hands. Just a thought... I know how frustrating it can be. My daughter is allergic to nuts, and has broken out a time or two with no explanation. Give Benadryl and watch him, because there is a definate possibility that it can get worse with each reaction. I'm not trying to scare you, I'm sure he will be okay, but talk to your pedi if you have an uneasy feeling at all.
Is he allergic to peanuts? I have a friend whose son is allergic to peanuts and he will have a reaction if he sits at a table where someone was eating a peanut butter sandwich. Just the slightest amount of it on the table causes a reaction in him.
Just a thought.
