Help needed for baby's skin problem

[MonBebeLove]

I hope it's okay for me to post this here as I believed it's skin related problem.
MODS, feel free to move this if this is not the right place.

1 week ago, DH alarmed me one morning that DS (3months+ old now) developed redness all over his tummy, arms, legs and face.
It's like hives (blotchy, skin-colour but lighter), with (angry)redness around those blotchy areas. They don't look like eczema, at all. At that point of time, I guess it looks like uticaria but I wasn't too sure. So I immediately took the camera and took photos of them.
These symptoms would subsides about 30-40 minutes later. And when it's gone, everythings perfectly back to normal. But hours later would re-appears again..:((poor DS!)
On the other hand, DS doesn't seems to try to scratch those areas (so I am wondering if it's itchy at all) but he would be very agitated (looks v.uncomfortable) and not taking his feed properly.

I was wondering if it's his formula but then these symptoms appeared before his feeding.
I brought him to see the GP the following day..but since these comes and go, it's gone while I was on the way to the clinic. But I took my digicam with me and I was really glad that I took those photos - otherwise the GP might think I'm just one over-anxiety momma. Infact the doctor said without those photos, he wouldn't have believed what I've told him cos DS looks perfectly fine (he was actively playing while in the clinic!):smiliedance:
I didn't told the doctor what I think of it..but he himself told me from the pictures I showed him it looks like uticaria!
He checked DS well-being and everythings fine (that's the most important). And since he said DS is perfectly happy and healthy, he will not be prescribing any medication. And anyway usually the medicine for uticaria is anti-histamine..but he's not going to give to DS due to the side effects.
He advised me thou to see a paedatrician if this continues.

It's been a week now and DS still having these symptoms. Still the same - it comes and go.
I am still trying to figure out what triggers this at the first place cos there's nothing that I've changed from our normal routine, same detergent for DS clothes, same detergent I've been using for our clothes, same formula he's been taking all these while.

Anyone have any idea what this could be? And what I could do to stop this?
Any recommended paedatrician who is specialised with skin problem in children in Sydney area?
Thanks in advance.:hugs:

[Jinglebells]

usually Hives is caused by something touching the skin or ingesting something, cause you havn't changed anything in his diet or surroundings it might not be hives, unless you've changed your body wash or shampoo?? what we put on our skins can cause a reaction when we touch our kids

it wouldn't be a heat type rash would it?

[MonBebeLove]

Hi TrulyBlessed,
Thanks for your reply.:)
So far I have not changed anything - from my body wash, shampoo and body cream.
I would like to think it's just a heat rash. But no, it's not cos I myself used to have problems with heat rash and it looked nothing like that at all..:no:

THe GP told me if it's uticaria, you could have it for no apparent reason..
But he suggested that I try to change my baby's formula.
I just bought a different formula today and will see how it goes..

[Toffee apple]

This happened to DD about a year ago ,broke out in Hives & then they would vanish & turn up some where else . it only happened for 24 hours ,her eye even blew up & went down, she hadn't been outside & nothing had changed in her diet , our Dr thought maybe she was bitten by something , we did give her Zirtec (2 drops i think it was) & she was then fine.
hmmmmmm weird that it is still going on after a week ,poor munchkin.

[youngones]

I'd be interested to know what side effects your doc said would occur from antihistamines - DD has had Zyrtec liquid drops twice a day since she was 4.5mths old and we haven't seen any side effects and the product information lists almost no severe side effects - certainly no more than other common meds like panadol or the oral contraceptive. The specialist we saw said that Zyrtec was one of the least obtrusive medications available and certainly a better option than prescription cortisone (we use an over the counter cortisone every single day). Perhaps your doctor was talking about sedating antihistamines like Phenergan? For a long time, it was suggested there might be a link between sedating antihistamines and SIDS, but that link has long since been broken.

If it is urticaria, the absolute best available treatment is an antihistamine and to find and remove the cause. I had a severe urticaria reaction to an unknown substance a few years ago (limb and facial swelling, difficulty breathing etc) and probably should have gone to the ED, but instead took a massive dose of over the counter antihistamines, then got a massive shot of phenergan from an after hours doctor service. The combination got me through the worst of it, but allergies aren't something to be messed with. My DD has eczema, food allergies and anaphylaxis. If she presented with the kind of rashing and swelling that I had, I would take her to the ED immediately/call an ambo (we have an epi pen, but that is just first aid).

DD's eczema appeared around 6wks of age and we saw the specialist when she was 4.5mths. Even if the hives/rash/swelling goes away, it is still worth seeing a specialist and finding out what the cause is. If you can remove it or isolate it, you'll live a much more stress-free existence!!

[MonBebeLove]

Hi Toffee Apple & youngones,:wave:
Thanks for replying.

Definitely would like to try Zyrtec after your assurance.

I don't think my GP only meant sedating antihistamine cos I remember asking him if there's anything at all to give my poor son; and he told me somethinng like this:
"There's nothing that he could prescribed to my son as he prefers not to give antihistamine due to my son's age and the side effects". (he told me to just give panadol drop if my son's temp gets high. That's all).
Well..but you know GP sometimes......

I'm making an appointment to see the paedatrician this time.:yes:
But if someone knows of any specialist to recommend, I would really appreciate that.:)