hives (?) or bites? Rash?

About 6 weeks ago I got a cold, and about the same time, I started
getting what I thought were hives. I had around 4-5 itchy bumps that
came and went, basically looked like mosquito bites. Once the
itchiness stops, they look like red bumps that gradually fade.

Cold is long gone now, but the hives are still here. I just figured it
was some kind of winter thing (also have very dry skin) but then my
3-year-old daughter started getting them too.

Her bumps, like mine, are mostly under the clothes. Most of hers are
on her tummy, groin, uppper legs. Like mine, a few itch at a time, and
after the itchiness stops, they become red bumps.

No on else in the family has this (husband, 6-month old daughter).

Just a coincidence that we are both having hives? An insect that only
bites two of us? Something caused by a germ?

Would you be concerned?

Chances are it is nothing to worry about.

However, if it persists, you may want to rule out scabies. Here is a link if you want more info. Good luck.

http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/Scabies.html

Jan wrote:

Just a coincidence that we are both having hives? An insect that only
bites two of us? Something caused by a germ?

My husband gets exactly that, and it is an allergic reaction. He
usually gets it from certain foods (fat fish) or alcoholic drinks.
It is a mild sign of concern in the sense that if it gets worse,
you should contact a doctor. You may consider an allergy screening
to find if there are specific substances to avoid (e.g. pets).

--
-- I
mommy to DS (17m)
mommy of a tiny angel (Oct 2003)
guardian of DH (32)
TTC #2.5
War doesn't decide who's right, only who's left

Ilse Witch wrote in message ...
Jan wrote:

Just a coincidence that we are both having hives? An insect that only
bites two of us? Something caused by a germ?

My husband gets exactly that, and it is an allergic reaction. He
usually gets it from certain foods (fat fish) or alcoholic drinks.
It is a mild sign of concern in the sense that if it gets worse,
you should contact a doctor. You may consider an allergy screening
to find if there are specific substances to avoid (e.g. pets).

Wel that's what I thought at first, but 2 of us getting it? And my
daughter starting with it 6 weeks after I first started?

It's not getting worse, it is pretty much constant. I get about 3-4
new bumps a day. Daughter gets 1-2 a day.

They are exactly like mosquito bites, but I have seen no mosquitos.
None. I looked into scabies as the previous responder mentioned, but
this is quite different from that.

We haven't seen any fleas in the house. We don't have any pets. I've
been looking for bedbugs (I was told they are "coming back") but
haven't found any yet.

Jan wrote:

Wel that's what I thought at first, but 2 of us getting it? And my
daughter starting with it 6 weeks after I first started?

You may both be responding to the same thing, but she may be less
affected or less sensitive.

It's not getting worse, it is pretty much constant. I get about 3-4
new bumps a day. Daughter gets 1-2 a day.

That does sound weird. When my DH has them, they usually disappear
after a day or so, he gets them all at once, but no new ones on
a daily basis. Did you change anything around the house recently,
like laundry detergent, paint, new type of pans, anything that
touches you or your food? The actual change may be a while back,
up to 2 or 3 months. Considering your daughter responded a full
6 weeks later than you did, you may be having a late response too.
Some substances need to build up to a critical level before your
body reacts to them.

They are exactly like mosquito bites, but I have seen no mosquitos.
None. I looked into scabies as the previous responder mentioned, but
this is quite different from that.

Mosquito bites are an anti-histamine reaction, which is basically
an allergic reaction to the sting of the mosquito. If you have
bumps like that, there must be a substance in your system that
you respond allergically to. It can be a pain to figure out
what it is, but it really does sound like allergy to me. I'd
have it checked by a physician anyway, it's not normal. If it
is indeed an allergy, you need to know what's causing it, in
the long run this can be dangerous as you both can develop a
more serious response to it.

--
-- I
mommy to DS (17m)
mommy of a tiny angel (Oct 2003)
guardian of DH (32)
TTC #2.5
War doesn't decide who's right, only who's left