Parents with young children are interested in understanding what causes hives in kids because this kind of knowledge puts them in a good position to address their children’s health issues as they arise. Viral infections happen to be among the frequent triggers of acute hives in children. Many of these viral infections are ultimately harmless and are resolved quickly, especially if the child has a healthy immune system. However, some of them are potentially serious infections when left untreated.
Some of the viral infections that have been associated with hives include rubella, infectious mononucleosis, herpes, hepatitis, the common cold and influenza. When the hives appear, they tend to be an indication that the immune system has begun to overcome the viral infection. They can often be read as a sign that the child is getting better.
Hives constitute a complex condition about which much remains unknown. Thus, even if it is widely accepted that viral infections can play a role in the development of hives, the mechanism by which this happens is not always clear. With this in mind, one might want to consider whether it is more appropriate to speak of the factors that trigger hives in kids than to speak of what causes hives in kids.
Further Consideration of What Causes Hives in Kids
Further consideration of what causes hives in kids reveals a host of other triggers. These factors include bacterial infections, various forms of medication and insect bites and stings. Food allergies are also notorious for triggering hives. In some cases, the allergens in question are a regular part of the diet, like peanuts or fish. This makes them particularly dangerous because it is not always possible to control the child’s environment and ensure that he or she will not accidentally ingest the allergen.
Unlike the localized hives that usually result when a child comes into direct physical contact with an allergen like pollen or the venom in an insect bite, the hives that are associated with viral infections tend to be spread out all over the body. When allergies are the triggering factor for a child’s hives, angioedema sometimes coincides with the child’s other symptoms. In its most extreme forms, this can result in the child’s suffocation. Treating the symptoms of hives and removing their trigger from the child’s environment is of paramount importance. This is one instance where knowing what causes hives in kids can help ensure the prompt and appropriate treatment of a child.
