Has anyone ever seen this? - possibly allergic reaction?

stanleygirl wrote: I was babysitting my nephew today, he's 14 months old, and all of a sudden his face swelled and he started crying and scratching his face. There were 3 distinct LARGE hives around his nose (I know bc I get hives), but as quickly as this all happened and I called SIL work, the swelling went right back down, he settled, and the hives were not gone, but there were just 3 little bumps left. Could this have been an allergic reaction to something? Would it just go away so quickly? SIL says nothing like this has ever happened before. TIA!!

ediep replied: could it have been a bug bite? or maybe did he eat something different? It sounds like an allergic reaction to me

stanleygirl replied: Nope I asked about a new food being introduced and SIL said no, but I didnt think to look for a bug bite, bc we were inside.

ammommy replied: It definately sounds like either a bug bite or allergic reaction. Since he was crying, I'm thinking bug bite. We've got these little "no see ums" flying around and the bites HURT! Within minutes, the bite bumps are gone.
Keep an eye on him and his temp. If it raises quickly, call the ped to be safe.

DansMom replied: That does sound like an allergic reaction. Was there any fragrance in the air? Sometimes the reactions from smelling something are shorter. Had he eaten or drank something within the last 30 minutes, did he pat a dog or cat, or did a dog lick his face?

ammommy replied:
Oh, I had forgotten about that. I get bumps from animal slobber.

stanleygirl replied: nope, no pets, and he had eaten McDonalds that SIL brought for him, and drank the juice she brought for him. I hadn't cleaned anything or sprayed any scent, so I dont think it was that.
I think that SIL doesnt really think it was that serious bc it went away so fast, but honestly seeing his face look like that scared me.
I am worried that he might need to see his dr.

kimberley replied: even if you didn't recently clean something, that doesn't mean the residue from the chemicals isn't still on furniture, carpet, remote, etc... it definitely sounds like an allergic reaction. what was he doing/ playing with just before it happened?

stanleygirl replied: Honestly I am not sure exactly which toys he had played with bc he and Kieran had so many out and were passing them all back and forth. I'm really worried about his bc SIL is not taking him to the dr, and I am a little wary about what to do if it happens again, or if it is worse next time.

Hey, I just thought of this, if he was allergic to peanut's he could get sick just from smelling it, cant he? Kieran had a peanut butter sandwich just before they started playing!! Maybe thats it...

A&A'smommy replied: Maybe he got a bite from him when you weren't looking!! That sounds awful would have scared me too...

redchief replied: That was an allergic reaction. In fact, it was a severe allergic reaction. Hives are bad; swelling is life threatening. You all need to try diligently to find what it was that caused the reaction.

Remember that allergic reactions can come from something that a child has eaten or used with no problems whatsoever in the past! In fact, a new item can NOT cause an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions are our immune systems in overdrive. You must be exposed to an element or thing at least once before you can become allergic to it. Allergies are developed; they are not inherent.

What disturbs me most about your story is the severity. That reaction bordered on anaphalaxis. If that swelling had happened in his airway (his throat) he could have been unable to breathe. Again, you NEED to try and find out what caused that reaction. I also recommend an allergist as soon as possible.

amymom replied: I agree with Ed. You asked Has anyone seeen this? and yes I have and the person almost had to be intubated (breathing tube down the throat) with the reaction. It was very severe, first swelling of face then throat started to close up. Fortunately the person was in a doctors office being watched for such a reaction and ?ephinephrine? (sorry about the spelling and name of drug it may be off a bit) was administered. And there were doctors around, and 911 was still called.
I think you need to insist that SIL get child to an allergist ASAP. Again as Ed said allergic reactions come after a person is exposed to the thing at least once with no reaction. Example: Bee sting allergies NEVER show up the first time you are stung. So you can't say, I'm not allergic because I have been stung before. You HAVE to be stung at least once to build up the reaction.
Good Luck!

stanleygirl replied: Thank you sooo much, I really think my instincts were telling me the same thing, and I am going to talk to SIL, and just tell her how scary it was seeing that in the moment, and I took a picture as soon as he started to look a little better (not sure why, just thought it could help a dr? silly I know lol), so if it turned out I will give it to her too.
I really feel for any parent who has to see their kids go through something like that, or god forbid see them unable to breathe

Melode124 replied: U know thats kinda werid cause i get the same things! i just got two of them today, one on my eye(ouchie) and one on my arm about hte size of a 50 cent peice, and it itched soooo bad. the dermatoligest didnt know what it is fromt though