One summer when Second Son was age 7, he developed hives during breakfast one day. Nothing different or unusual had been served. I gave him the antihistamine, Benadryl, watched him and then sent him off to his day's activities.
Throughout the month of July, the hives came and went like an annoying pest. They seemed to be associated with a viral sore throat that he had at one point according to our pediatrician. Then, in mid-August, we were leaving for a beach vacation that involved a 10 hour drive. He was really sick with a fever, sore throat and hives the morning of departure. Instead of leaving for the trip, I took him to the ER where they ran a variety of blood tests and concluded it was: a viral sore throat.
Hives continued to show up on and off. Sometimes big welts. Sometimes really small. But intensely itchy.
When the hives came at night, I would resort to giving him Benadryl so that he could sleep.
We visited our pediatrician a couple more times about the hives and the best guess for a diagnosis was "idiopathic hives", i.e. hives for no good reason. (The official definition is: "dermatologic disorder with itching wheals experienced on a chronic basis; etiology unknown." Medilexicon)
By the end of November this had been going on for five months and he was now needing Benadryl every night. Something had to give.
(An aside here: I am a big fan of Benadryl. Benadryl is always in my house. It has literally saved my life and I would not be without it. But, like anything else, I did not want my kid to have it in his system to that degree.)
I resolved to get to the bottom of it-----thinking there had to be a cause and effect. By this point in time, the hives were showing up in the morning before breakfast and in the evening after he had been put to bed.
I rolled out all of my natural health books and had at it. Looking up hives in the Prescription For Nutritional Healing (one of my go tos) there was a sidebar list of about 50 chemicals that can cause hives in certain individuals. I hit on fluoride and the light bulb went off. His symptoms showed up after brushing his teeth in the morning and after brushing his teeth in the evening.
I got him fluoride free toothpaste and slowly the hives began to dissipate----just showing up sporadically here and there. And then leaving for good.
As far as the state of his dental affairs: he is now 11 and the only one of my three kids without cavities. Go figure. (There are huge battles on fluoride use vs. non-fluoride use in many other places to peruse. Suffice to say I am okay he is without given his body's response.)
CASE SOLVED.
Here is a post that is timely given the season we are in. I know that winter is coming when the chilblains start up. Right now, I have them on every finger of my right hand and some of my left hand fingers. Ouch.
In addition to sharing this blog with my sister, we also share this malady. I have not met any others who mention having them. So what are they?
Here is a proper definition according to Medilexicon's medical dictionary:
Chilblains are Erythema, itching, and burning, especially of the dorsa of the fingers and toes, and of the heels, nose, and ears caused by vascular constriction on exposure to extreme cold (usually associated with high humidity); lesions can be single or multiple, and can become blistered and ulcerated. (synonym: periniosis)
Mine began about five years ago and are limited to my fingertips. Little painful red dots, pinprick in size. So sensitive that it hurts to touch and pick up things. Eventually, the red dots erupt and heal over taking on a crater look.
For me, the word, chilblain, conjures up an image such as this:
It is probable that chilblains come from my British Isles ancestors. It seems a very English affliction to have. Think Dickens' tales or Oliver Twist (especially the bad guy with the fingerless gloves).
They tie me to my ancestors in a romantic sense---the ancestors who bore the hardships of English/Scottish/Irish winters. If not for them---and chilblains----I might not be here in my present form.
Other than wearing gloves at all times to keep hands protected from cold weather, I have not found any quick fix for chilblains. If it gets worse, I may check out this:
The medieval Bald's Leechbook* recommended that chilblains be treated with a mix of eggs, wine, and fennel root. (Wikipedia)
Anybody out there have chilblains and care to share remedies?
*(Bald's Leechbook (also known as Medicinale Anglicum) is an Old English medical text probably compiled in the ninth-century, possibly under the influence of Alfred the Great's educational reforms. It takes its name from a Latin verse colophon at the end of the second book which begins Bald habet hunc librum Cild quem conscribere iussit, meaning "Bald owns this book which he ordered Cild to compile. [Wikipedia])
