What Are the Causes of Itchy Hives on a Child?

Hives, also known as urticaria, can occur anywhere of the body of a child and are raised areas characterized by redness, itching and usually a comparatively pale center. Hives vary in size and can occur in one spot, fade away and appear somewhere else on your child's body.

Facts

• Not all children react in the same way to irritants. Susceptible children will experience a rapid immune response in which the body releases histamine. Histamine, in turn, causes bumpy hives and the accompanying itch.

Common Causes

• According to AHealthyMe.com, hives are most commonly caused in children by allergies to food (such as shellfish or strawberries), medications (both prescription and over-the-counter), insect stings or bites and plants.

Additional Causes

• They may also be viral infections such as mononucleosis, hepatitis or enterovirus. According to KramesOnline, additional causes also include emotional stress, extreme temperatures and exercise.

Considerations

• Your child may develop hives after being exposed to the irritant one time or after being exposed several times. For example, your child may take penicillin for the first time and have no reaction but develop hives during another episode of taking the medication.

When to Call Your Doctor

• Urticaria is usually a harmless condition. If your child has developed a rash or hives while taking a specific medication, has had hives in the past, experiences hives for longer than four hours or has an accompanying fever higher than 100 degrees F, you should call your doctor.

When to Seek Emergency Help

• Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical care right away if you notice that your child is experiencing difficulty breathing, hives or swelling around his mouth or has clammy/pale skin or confusion.