HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Causes Rashes Throughout The Body And Swollen Lips?

default
Posted on Thu, 9 Jun 2016
Question: My son has a rash all over his body since yesterday morning. I am giving him benadryl. It helps a little but will come back right away. This morning he woke up with his lip swollen and his hands tingly.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Hives

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

The rash in the picture is hives (urticaria). Something has set off an allergic reaction in him, possibly something he ate.

I am concerned about that it caused lip swelling too. Hives are more concerning if they affect the tongue, and of course the airway.

Keep giving him Benadryl every 4-6 hrs. You can skip the cream - it won't work for something like this as the reaction is coming from the inside rather than from the outer skin.

But I think you should take him in to urgent care today to be seen. The doctor may want to also give him a short course of corticosteroid (prednisone) to shut the reaction down.

Benadryl is a standard Histamine type 1 receptor blocker. Sometimes in a severe reaction we add (in addition to the Benadryl) a Histamine type 2 blocker such as the antacid Zantac to cover more bases.

But I would take him in to be seen now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 days later)
Good Evening,

I have a question, I finally took my son in to the ER on Sunday. They said he did have hives and gave him a steroids shot and some pills. Since Sunday, he has only been getting worse. During the day, he doesn't get a lot of them, but as soon as the afternoon gets here, he will get them everywhere. Today they even spread all over his face. I am concerned, can you tell me what else I can do?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
About the steroids/hives.

Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to hear this!

Can you please tell me the dose of the steroid (Prednisone? Solumedrol?) and if he has completed these? Did they give a tapering dose or one dose to be used for the duration?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (11 minutes later)
This is what he is currently taking.

Hydroxyzine HCI 25mg Oral Tablet

Pepcid 20mg

Medrol (Pak) 4 mg. Oral Tablet


This is what he received during the visit:

SOLU-Medrol 125mg

Atarax 25mg

Pepcid 2mg


He will be on his day 3 of the Medrol.




doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Some information:

Detailed Answer:
Medrol dose packs usually taper from a higher dose to a lower one. If he got better shortly after the ER visit and then the hives got worse, it may be because of the tapering dose. He may need a sustained dose of steroid such as Prednisone for up to 10 days.

He may also need to double the dose of hydroxyzine (the antihistamine). 50 mg rather than 25 (this dose may be very sedating though).

It can be difficult, but consider if there is anything he is continuing to eat that may be making this worse. (Nuts? Peanuts?) However don't beat yourself up if you can't identify anything as sometimes these things come on one time and persist for awhile and resolve, never to be seen again.

But, I think you should contact his doctor or the doctor on call, tell him/her your son's recent history and meds and that symptoms are worsening. If that isn't helpful, take him back to the ER. As he may need more steroids or to be evaluated by an allergist.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Causes Rashes Throughout The Body And Swollen Lips?

Brief Answer: Hives Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, The rash in the picture is hives (urticaria). Something has set off an allergic reaction in him, possibly something he ate. I am concerned about that it caused lip swelling too. Hives are more concerning if they affect the tongue, and of course the airway. Keep giving him Benadryl every 4-6 hrs. You can skip the cream - it won't work for something like this as the reaction is coming from the inside rather than from the outer skin. But I think you should take him in to urgent care today to be seen. The doctor may want to also give him a short course of corticosteroid (prednisone) to shut the reaction down. Benadryl is a standard Histamine type 1 receptor blocker. Sometimes in a severe reaction we add (in addition to the Benadryl) a Histamine type 2 blocker such as the antacid Zantac to cover more bases. But I would take him in to be seen now.