It is common for children to suffer from a hives-like rash at some point in their life. There are many types of rashes with specific visual indicators of what they can be. First, you may be wondering, “What does hives rash look like?” Hives rashes differ from other types of rashes primarily in appearance. Rather than bumps that resemble pimples or big bites, hives-like rash symptoms are the development of raised welts or wheels that vary in size and can be either flesh colored or different shades of red.
Mono and Hives-like Rash
Mononucleosis, also known as “mono”, is a viral infection that can cause hives on the back and other parts of the body. Spread through contaminated saliva, mono causes the lymph node glands of the throat to swell, inflames the tonsils, and causes fatigue and general feeling of un-wellness. In most cases a rash resembling that of measles develops, particularly if amoxicillin has been administered. In rare cases a hives-like rash may appear. The best treatment for mono is plenty of rest, fluids, and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and fever. However, if your child has mono and suffers from hives, ibuprofen and other pain relievers such as aspirin can, in certain cases, make hives worse. In the event that the hives become worse, keep the skin cool and apply topical ointments for the itching. Once the medicine has passed through their system the hives will begin to subside.
Hives-like Rash in Children
When your child suddenly develops a rash it is easy to become anxious and make an appointment with your doctor. According to DrSEARS (http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/childhood-illnesses/hives), illness is the leading cause of hives in children, a common culprit being the flu virus. If your child suffers from fever and hives but no other symptoms then it is likely that the hives are being caused by the illness. Regardless of the exact cause you should focus on providing relief if there is itching. Administering a dose of Benadryl is helpful to counter and stop the histamine reaction and reduce the presence of hive welts. It can also help with itching though it is known to produce drowsiness. If the hives persist then it is safe to give your child Benadryl every six hours as needed. If the hives-like rash diminishes to only a handful of spots you can stop the use of Benadryl. In the event of hives-like rash, fever, and other symptoms or if your child becomes progressively sicker it is recommended to check in with your doctor and review the symptoms and duration of the hives and illness.
