My son had a cold with a fever last week. Then after a few days, the fever stopped, but he got a weird rash on his leg, arm and some on his face. I took him to the pediatrician, and she said that the rash was just hives and sometimes they come up with a virus. She said to give him benadryl every 4 - 6 hours until there is no rash, and then for 24 more hours. So I did that three times. Each time the rash would come back after about 10 hours. During this time, my son was miserable and being one of the few kids who actually gets hyper after benadryl, it was a very stressful time for us. Yesterday morning I gave him the last dose of Benadryl. He was fine til about 6pm, then got a rash on his face. I didn't give him Benadrul, just put some topical on. He was fine after that and slept fine all night. Today he was fine until after nap when he woke up with it on his face and on his shoulders. Again, I didn't give him Benadryl, just a topica and it went away. I really don't want to give him Benadryl again. Has anyone had anything like this happen? Of course my pediatrician's office is closed and I don't consider this an emergency. I will call them Monday morning, but thought I'd ask all of you in the meantime.
We went through that when my son was younger. Benadryl was not that effective. It didn't completely suppress the rash and wore off too soon, not to mention it made him crazy hyper. I agree with trying another allergy medicine.
The hives can be caused by something else altogether. I wouldn't give Benadryl too much. Hives are usually caused by an allergic reaction or stress (stress can be so many different things.)
Has anything changed in your home? Soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, foods etc.?
Personally I would get a second opinion about the fever and combined rash. It may not even be hives.
My son is having itchy rash, too, turns out because of the new soap. Moms here suggested to use vanicream or eucerin calming cream, and oatmeal bath. I am trying it now. However, my son didn't have the fever.
Fever+ rash could means chickenpox, smallpox, dengue fever ( mosquito bites), roseola. I don't know.
However, Benadryl is not that friendly. Some kids are reported to react on it badly.
I have never heard of hives with a virus.. but that doesnt mean it couldn't happen.
What came to my mind was if you have changed anything about his bedding or laundry soap/ fabric softner. If so, it could be because of that. or even if its the same at any time you can become allergic to anything. So maybe switch the soap over the weekend and see if it makes a difference before being able to get him in Monday.
Good luck, I hope he feels better soon and this clears up once and for all.
It's 5ths disease and any Benadryl will not help. It just has to run its course. If anything make him comfortable with Tylenol. If he is still sick after hives are gone I would go back. Strep can give a sandpaper type rash. But this is totally the fifths disease that is going around the entire USA right now.
Virus or allergy. It is going to be trial and error. Write down when the
rash occurs. Maybe laundry detergent, etc. It will take some time.
My son has the same thing, and the nurse said I could give him the Benadryl if it helped, but it wasn't necessary. He had it last fall too, and it went away on its own and we didn't use the Benedryl because he was too young. (He just turned 1 last week). I wouldn't worry about it and it should go away on its own.
After an illness that had a fever.... a child may get "hives." It is the virus leaving the body.
Both my kids have had that when younger.
Doctor said what I said.
It did not itch or bother them. It may take awhile for it to go away. For some it may itch.
Our Doctor never said to use Benadryl.
And yes, it can make some kids more hyper.
At first thought, sounds like it may be Roseola. Roseola presents in children ages 6 mo. to 3 years old. It starts with a high fever and once the fever goes away a rash starts. The rash can last a couple days and then goes away on it's own. The rash is not itchy or bothersome to the child, (just the parent) but if it lasts for more than a week you need to contact the pediatrician again. Maybe you want to google this virus which is also known as 6th disease and see if it could be what your son has.
In any case, I hope it's over soon! Best wishes.
It might be something called fifth disease...I recently just heard of it.
Yeah -- the rash could absolutely be the virus or it could be environmental, like others have suggested.
My guess is your doctor prescribed Benadryl to counteract the allergen and make your son more comfortable, not to "cure" the virus or something like that. If your little guy's having a hard time with Benadryl, try calling your local pharmacist. I agree that this isn't "emergency room worthy" but maybe something like Zyrtec or Allegra would help. Call or stop by. They can be really, really helpful.
Had the exact same thing with my daughter in January. The hives would return before the next dose of benadryl was allowed, and they movved locations...new paces kept appearing. . The dr said I could also give claritin while on benadryl. I didn't do that but switched her to Claritin which seemed to work better.
Sounds to me more like an allergic reaction maybe to laundry detergent or something. Have you changed anything? Soap, fabric softener, shampoo? Any different foods? Drinks? Allergies can be triggered by so many things. Maybe he's allergic to the Benadryl?
Good luck!!!
Sounds like Fifths disease as some others mentioned. Some doctors are diagnosing it, some aren't. I believe it just has to run its course. Also, once the rash is present it says that it is not contagious at that point. I would stop the benadryl and tell your doctor that you think it might be fifths. Good luck!
