Apparently my kid is allergic to something.

[Lyric]

He told me about a half-hour ago that he was feeling very "itchy". So I unclothed him to look and see what was causing the itching, and he is just covered in red spots and welts. A couple near his waistband-area are huuuge. Definitely hives of some kind. It can't be chicken pox, because he's be vaccinated against varicella. And today was his first day back at school--he wasn't exposed to anything, and nothing he might have gotten exposed to today would have had time to incubate yet. So I'm 99% sure this is an allergic rash.

I'm thinking it might be the laundry detergent--we were short on cash so we had to buy the cheaper stuff this week. Purex is the brand name, I think--we got it at the Dollar General, huge bottle for $3. We've used it before, but never this particular scent.

I've never had an allergy like that in my life, so I'm a tad clueless. I bathed him, dressed him in clothes that are brand-new, never-been-washed (he got some for Christmas that he hadn't worn yet) and rubbed the rash with hydrocortisone cream.

Still...poor kid. He must be miserable. I'm going to go search for some liquid Benadryl--I'm pretty sure we have some around here somewhere.

Have you ever had an allergic reaction like that? What works for you when you're itching? I'm looking for some way to help the poor little guy feel more comfortable.

[LeftyMom]

1. Sounds like an allergy to me

But just because he's vaccinated, don't assume he can't get chicken pox. That shot doesn't work for shit, based on the the number of kids I know who've got it and got "a rather chicken-pox like viral rash" (doctor speak for "it's chicken pox but I don't feel like sitting on hold with the county health department") and the fact that it wears off by the time they're teenagers (interestingly, when chicken pox becomes more serious.)

[Lyric]

16. I just checked him again while he's sleeping.

The rash seems to be looking better already, now that he's been bathed and rubbed down with Cortaid cream. He's feeling a bit warm, though. Poor kid--I really hope this is just a skin reaction to some chemical in the detergent. He'll be miserable if he can't go to school and play with his friends. :(

[Lars39]

2. Purex is pretty harsh stuff.

I'd get him out of the clothes that have never been washed at all, too.
Kroger has a store brand (FMV) detergent that has no fragrances or colorants. Around $2 for a gallon.

[flvegan]

3. Check the label

Many things sold at "dollar stores" weren't meant to be sold here. For example, I read about toothpaste at a dollar store that was labelled for sale in Mexico. Something about that product didn't have to pass whatever guidelines/muster here in the States, and shouldn't be sold here.

[Lyric]

8. Oh yuck--I had no idea that sort of thing happened.

We don't usually shop at that place, but a very tight budget kind of forced us to this week. Won't be making THAT mistake again. Ugh.

*goes to check label*

Edit: Label says "Made in the USA" in Scottsdale, Arizona. I'm guessing that means it must be okay to sell here.

[LeftyMom]

4. Another thought

It might not be a bad idea to call the school. It's possible that they took advantage of the holiday absence of students to paint or spray the lawn or something and that's the origin of the rash. I think the detergent is more likely, but it can't hurt to check into that as well.

As far as the detergent goes, can you double rinse the clothes? Sometimes with people with allergies or sensitive skin you have to do that even with the very mild detergents. It might not be a bad idea to switch to a dye and fragrance free or naturally scented detergent, even if you only use it on his clothes and bedding, although some people can use just one or two scented detergents or only have reactions to one (a family friend can use any cheap stuff in the universe, but if you wash his clothes in Tide his skin gets to raw he looks like somebody dragged him behind the car for a while.)

[Lyric]

7. We've never had this problem before

so I haven't been "double-rinsing" as of yet. If this turns out to be an allergic reaction to the detergent though, I definitely will be in the future--even when we switch back to Gain (our usual brand).

Thank you for the idea about the school--I'll definitely call and see if they've done anything like that, should this turn out to be an allergic rash. I'm taking him to the Urgent Care center tonight, though--I have to know for sure one way or the other about the chicken pox thing, because if it *is* chicken pox, he can't go to school until he's not contagious anymore.

Looks like it's going to be a long night--whee! lol

[CC]

5. I am allergic to some laundry

detergents (Fab, Ivory and Gain off the top of my head) and to Ivory soap. I was a kid when my mom used a different detergent too. Any place that my clothing came in closer contact with or rubbed was worse but it was everywhere clothing touched. I would get him in the shower if you haven't to wash off any remaining traces. The benadryl should help. Also don't forget his sheets and blankets if you washed them with the new detergent. You may have to dump the new and find what you were using before and re wash all his clothes. I stick to what I know won't cause problems now and am very careful about letting anyone else do my laundry.

[Lyric]

15. I did put him right into the shower when I saw the rash.

We hadn't washed his sheets yet this week, thank goodness. I'm doing a load of laundry right now with a tiny bit of his Johnson & Johnson kids body wash as the soap, because (1) it's gentle, and (2) it's really all we have other than the Purex detergent. I'm home alone without a car, so I'm waiting to hear back from my Mom to take us to the Urgent Care center.

[skygazer]

6. My daughter is allergic to Tide laundry detergent

She would break out in a rash similar to what you describe and it was terribly itchy. Benadryl sounds like a good idea. Poor kid. :(

[Kajsa]

9. Everyone here is allergic to Tide.

We used it once, broke out in a rash,
never again!

I sure hope she feels better.

Benydryl is a great idea.
Good luck!

:hi:

[lildreamer316]

22. That's the only one I'm NOT allergic to!

weird; huh?

[Midlodemocrat]

25. I've been using that Tide with lavender and the same thing. No one is allergic.

Weird.

Tide was the only thing my mom could use because her allergies were so bad. Even folding clothes with something else caused her to break out.

[Lyric]

12. He's sleeping right now.

He conked out on my bed after the nice warm shower and hydrocortisone rubdown. I keep checking to see if he feels feverish at all. I really, really, REALLY hope this isn't chicken pox. He'll have to be home from school for 4-6 days and miserable on top of that. My poor little man. :(

[Little Wing]

10. It must be that Robb guy, he just showed up

[Elidor]

11. Benadryl and Cimetidine (acid reducer)

Sorry, I forget the brand name of Cimetidine, because I buy it generic. Benadryl mops up the histamines, but Cimetidine helps prevent their further release.

When the hives get that bad, you should keep an eye on the boy. My most severe allergic reactions, which followed shortly after the stage he's at, included throat-swelling and severe mental confusion and irritability. Very unpleasant stuff which at some point is best handled by an emergency room physician.

List all the foods he's eaten lately. If reactions continue, the safest things to eat are oatmeal, rice and beef. I found I have problems with smoked meats, nuts, eggs, you name it. All the good stuff.

[Lyric]

13. He hasn't eaten anything unusual except for

one bite of blackeyed peas for New Year's Ever dinner. He said lunch at school today was ham sandwiches, french fries, and fruit cocktail, I think. Nothing unusual there--he's been eating those things off and on for years. He's never had an allergic reaction to anything before (he's six years old) so this is totally new territory for me.

Definitely taking him to the Urgent Care center tonight.

[Elidor]

19. They can develop without much warning

For me it was itchy hands for several weeks before the first big outbreak. There was a local lady who one day developed a reaction to eggs and died on the way to the hospital. They can just pop up at anytime. It's horrifying, really. If it is detergent, or some other non-food item, it will be relatively easy to adjust.

[Lyric]

17. Oh--and I think Cimetidine is "Tagamet" n/t

[Elidor]

18. Yes, that's it.

Thanks

[elfrangel]

14. We have a history of allergies in my family..

my son is allergic to anything w. Penicillin or related to it. Kinda stinks when we have to get antibiotics. But anyway..

Sounds like an allergic reaction to me. Son showed the same symptoms you described when he was on a round of augmentin/amoxicillin (can't remember which) for an ear infection a couple of summers ago. Never have had a problem with detergent though. My dad does, I think my parents use All free and clear or Dreft for laundry.


Hope he gets better soon though. If he can tolerate it, you might try a warm bath w. some baking soda in it. Always helped me feel better when I was itchy as a kid.


:hug: to your kiddo.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. I was allergic to shrimp when I was a kid...

And other things gave me hives as well, though we never figured out what exactly.

Benedryl was the only thing that helped; and it knocked me out.

I had a recnt bout of hives on Thanksgiving, and I'm pretty sure it was an allergic reaction to an upper respiratory infection that showed up at the same time.

How old is your son? If he's not too young to take the pills, they're much easier to deal with than that nasty-tasting syrup. They're tiny, too.

Hope he feels better soon! :hug:

[lildreamer316]

21. Of all the things; Laundry detergent is one I am very sensitive to.

and I am VERY allergic to BOUNCE dryer sheets or liquid softener.
I have to use Tide or something similar. Yep; it sucks when we were broke...can't scrimp on the laundry stuff no matter what.
Good luck.

[Lyric]

23. Update:

The rash is definitely an allergy. After two doses of Benadryl, it nearly disappeared entirely last night. He's staying home from school today for further Benadryl treatments and Cortaid rubs, and we're re-washing all of his clothes in a mild liquid soap to get rid of any trace of that detergent. Then we're going to go see his pediatrician and get a comprehensive allergy test done, to make sure it's the detergent and not something else we didn't think of.

Another update, for those who saw my "This night just keeps getting better" thread: ThinkBlue1966 does not have a broken arm, thank goodness. Just a deep bone bruise on her arm, and a bruised tailbone. She has some Ultracet for the pain and is off of work the next 2 days. We spoke to the general manager about what happened, and he's going to give the evening managers hell tonight over their behavior. They're also instituting some new safety procedures for getting spills in the freezer cleaned up fast before they freeze and become a safety hazard.

Good morning DU!

[RubyDuby in GA]

27. Bless his heart. I'm glad to hear he's feeling better.

[MsKandice01]

30. The same thing happened to my son...and we never found the cause

He had huge welts all over the side of his face and chest and they disappeared after we gave him Benadryl. I talked to the doctor about it and she said these things happen and many times, you'll never know what actually caused it. I asked her about having allergy tests done and she said they weren't worth the pain and effort unless it happened repeatedly. I hope this was just an isolated incident for your son.

[MissMillie]

24. around my waist

only when I'm allergic to what's around my waist, and that actually turns out to be more often than one would think.

Whenever I have any abdominal surgery, I'm always allergic to whatever they close me up with. Stitches, staples, bandages,... all of it.

Thank goodness I can wear clothing!

[noonwitch]

26. My mom changed detergent on us one time and we all broke out

I don't remember the brand, but she usually used Tide. She bought something on sale, and we all broke out in a terrible rash.

The same thing happened when we tried Mr. Bubble instead of our usual Avon bubble bath.

[Omphaloskepsis]

28. I have an amazing reaction to a certain brand of Toaster Pastries.

Just like you describe. The only allergy that gets me so far. I don't remember the name. It was the kind where you put on your own frosting. Fuckers sent me to the emergency room.. Since I am a total dipshit I ate more to see if I could reproduce the effect. Yeah, it was the toaster pastry.

[tigereye]

29. we use that no perfume or dye detergent

it's often cheap in the drugstore....


my husband breaks out at the slightest provocation and is really sensitive to chemicals. Fortunately the kid is only allergic to cats.