When I was a child, I and my siblings often suffer from a skin disorder locally called Supot-Supot. This Supot-supot, I later found out is called by the doctors as Skin asthma or Hives.
Hives or skin asthma usually starts with small, almost a dot, red, itchy, raised rashes that may appear in any part of the body. As the rashes are scratched, it grows bigger and bigger until they join together.
Because we live in a barrio my mother thought the cause of the rashes is kulam or a witch’s inflicted disease. Treatment was then for us drinking a concoction of bitter herbal medicines. And for the relief of itch, she would apply Caladryl on our rashes. She would have us dress in black to make the rashes go away (it always puzzled me how). And she would give us a warm bath and make us stay in room with all the windows closed.
I never believed in my mother’s beliefs, because instead of relief, we suffered more with her remedies. So when my daughter suffered from hives, I didn’t do, not even one, of the remedies she treated us with. Instead I went to my pediatrician and I learned that the disease is an allergy, and I learned to properly deal with it.
Hives is very itchy. It’s painfully itchy. A child won’t be able to avoid scratching. And this is not good because the scratching causes the rashes to grow bigger (as it was mentioned earlier). It may as well cause abrasions or bruises which may lead to skin infections.
Causes:
- Hives is an allergic reaction. So it is caused by a wide array of substances. For example:
- Medicine
- Food like shellfish, citrus, fish, eggs, nuts even milk
- Pollen
- Insect bites
- Animal fur/hair like that of cats and dogs
Hives may also be caused by some conditions like:
- Sudden change of temperature
- Stress
- Extreme temperature (either hot or cold)
- Heavy sweating
- Infections
- Diseases
Treatment:
Hives doesn’t need to be treated. The rashes usually go away in a few days. But if it’s causing difficulty in breathing, nausea and dizziness, fever and weakness and if it has persisted for at least more than 4 weeks, it is best to see a doctor.
Remedy to alleviate the itching:
- Cold compress – you can use water, milk, tea, or boiled guava leaves. When we say cold, it means cool enough, not freezing. Wet a cloth with any of the suggested and cover the rashes with it. Let stand until the coolness disappear.
- Take a cool bath – not necessarily icy cool, just the normal tap water temperature. My pediatrician advised me to add oatmeal. They have this powdered oatmeal in sachets specifically for baths. If you do not have oatmeal you can also use baking soda. ½ box for every bath.
- Aloe Vera Gelly – I have discovered this lotion years ago and it helps a lot. It’s a Forever Living Company product. It’s all natural so it is safe. It also helps cool the rashes.
IMPORTANT:
- Avoid scratching. But since children cannot avoid it, have your child use mittens or soft cloth gloves to help prevent him from bruising himself.
- Have your child wear long clothes to cover the rashes that he may not be able to scratch it with his finger nails.
- Never give your child a warm bath. It will only make the rashes itch more!
- Watch your child for signs of weakness or difficulty in breathing, should these conditions be present, don’t waste time. Bring him to the hospital at once.
- Discover the triggering conditions so as you know to avoid.
