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What Causes Red And Raised Itchy Skin Rash?
Question: hello doctor,
My daughter is 9 years old. she has been exhibiting a skin rash that occurs as red, raised, thick patches with itching, for the past 5 months. She has not had any previous skin allergies like this before. Dermatologist said it is food allergy, but could not specify which food. We eat only egg and that too not regularly. We have cut down all packet foods. This reaction is under control when she takes anti allergent like Allerid and Atarax. Rash returns gradually when medication is stopped. Another physician said she is anemic and prescribed iron supplements and Montek LC, which she takes now. These anti allergic drugs makes her sleepy and it is difficult for her to do her ADLs. How long can we take Montek LC? Can anemia cause a rash ? I am really worried. Kindly clarify.
My daughter is 9 years old. she has been exhibiting a skin rash that occurs as red, raised, thick patches with itching, for the past 5 months. She has not had any previous skin allergies like this before. Dermatologist said it is food allergy, but could not specify which food. We eat only egg and that too not regularly. We have cut down all packet foods. This reaction is under control when she takes anti allergent like Allerid and Atarax. Rash returns gradually when medication is stopped. Another physician said she is anemic and prescribed iron supplements and Montek LC, which she takes now. These anti allergic drugs makes her sleepy and it is difficult for her to do her ADLs. How long can we take Montek LC? Can anemia cause a rash ? I am really worried. Kindly clarify.
Brief Answer:
Chronic Urticaria
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.
I understand your concern. It should have been a terrible thing to see this allergy going on for 5 months. By what you quote it seems rather like a skin allergy which is unlikely to be food allergy. Food allergy apart from skin manifestations might have some sort of gastrointestinal manifestations like vomiting or diarrhoea or pain in the tummy.
I have some questions and some suggestions for you.
Questions:
1. Is there any family history of similar allergies or skin rash?
2. Is this rash associated with severe pain in the stomach?
3. Is it associated with blood in the stools or black coloured motion?
4. is there any blood in the urine?
5. Has her blood pressure been monitored in these 5 months and is it normal?
6. Are there any bed bugs in her cot or in her school seating arrangements - kindly enquire.
7. Does her hands and feet and face swell during attack of allergy or does she have any noisy breathing during high severity?
Suggestions:
1. A photograph or two will definitely be more helpful if you can upload them.
2. MontekLC is a combination of Monteleukast and Levocetrizine and may cause mile drowsiness but it a very good in this scenario.
3. You may need to give them consistently for 6-8 weeks and may be more if she is still symptomatic on withdrawing them.
4. Anaemia is an unlikely accompaniment of rash. Even if it there in allergy it is not the causative agent for allergy.
5. She might need blood investigations like C1q esterase inhibitor.
Kindly get back with answers and images.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Chronic Urticaria
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.
I understand your concern. It should have been a terrible thing to see this allergy going on for 5 months. By what you quote it seems rather like a skin allergy which is unlikely to be food allergy. Food allergy apart from skin manifestations might have some sort of gastrointestinal manifestations like vomiting or diarrhoea or pain in the tummy.
I have some questions and some suggestions for you.
Questions:
1. Is there any family history of similar allergies or skin rash?
2. Is this rash associated with severe pain in the stomach?
3. Is it associated with blood in the stools or black coloured motion?
4. is there any blood in the urine?
5. Has her blood pressure been monitored in these 5 months and is it normal?
6. Are there any bed bugs in her cot or in her school seating arrangements - kindly enquire.
7. Does her hands and feet and face swell during attack of allergy or does she have any noisy breathing during high severity?
Suggestions:
1. A photograph or two will definitely be more helpful if you can upload them.
2. MontekLC is a combination of Monteleukast and Levocetrizine and may cause mile drowsiness but it a very good in this scenario.
3. You may need to give them consistently for 6-8 weeks and may be more if she is still symptomatic on withdrawing them.
4. Anaemia is an unlikely accompaniment of rash. Even if it there in allergy it is not the causative agent for allergy.
5. She might need blood investigations like C1q esterase inhibitor.
Kindly get back with answers and images.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
My answers for your questions:
1. There is no family history of such allergies or skin rash as far as I know. I have asthma. My daughter used to have rhinitis and sneezing when she gets up in the morning. These symptoms automatically disappear as day progresses. This rhinitis has disappeared after we started treating her with all these anti allergic medications.
2. Occasionally there was abdominal pain, not severe, with this rash. There was also occasional black stools and severe constipation intermittently. Even now she has constipation. (She takes a lot of milk.)
3. No hematochezia or hematuria.
4. We have not monitored her blood pressures as of yet.
5. No bed bugs at home or at school.
6. No swelling of limbs or face. During this attack, the skin becomes red, thick patches, wherever she scratches because of itching. It can be diffuse throughout her body, face, when severe. No noisy breathing that i have noticed.
i will try for the pictures.
Thank you for the reply.
My answers for your questions:
1. There is no family history of such allergies or skin rash as far as I know. I have asthma. My daughter used to have rhinitis and sneezing when she gets up in the morning. These symptoms automatically disappear as day progresses. This rhinitis has disappeared after we started treating her with all these anti allergic medications.
2. Occasionally there was abdominal pain, not severe, with this rash. There was also occasional black stools and severe constipation intermittently. Even now she has constipation. (She takes a lot of milk.)
3. No hematochezia or hematuria.
4. We have not monitored her blood pressures as of yet.
5. No bed bugs at home or at school.
6. No swelling of limbs or face. During this attack, the skin becomes red, thick patches, wherever she scratches because of itching. It can be diffuse throughout her body, face, when severe. No noisy breathing that i have noticed.
i will try for the pictures.
Brief Answer:
Chronic allergy
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.
By what you quote I feel your kid is having some sort of skin allergy called chronic urticarial. This may take some month to years to get better. Some kids grow out of it, but when nobody can predict. I want you to understand one thing.
Allergy is something which can only be controlled but never cured. I will quote an example for this. Imagine that, if I smell jasmine and I get sneezing. For 10 years I don't smell jasmine I don't sneeze, after that in 11th year I smell it, again I start sneezing. This is allergy.
It never disappears but comes out whenever a particular individual is exposed to the substance he or she is allergic to. The most common things being aeroallergens like pollen, dust etc.
You mentioned that you have asthma and she had symptoms suggestive of allergic rhinitis. These could be one of the reasons for her present allergy. Using Monteleukast and Levocetrizine is good. But I also suggest you see an allergy specialist and go for specific allergen testing and immunotherapy which is coming up in a big way now.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Chronic allergy
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.
By what you quote I feel your kid is having some sort of skin allergy called chronic urticarial. This may take some month to years to get better. Some kids grow out of it, but when nobody can predict. I want you to understand one thing.
Allergy is something which can only be controlled but never cured. I will quote an example for this. Imagine that, if I smell jasmine and I get sneezing. For 10 years I don't smell jasmine I don't sneeze, after that in 11th year I smell it, again I start sneezing. This is allergy.
It never disappears but comes out whenever a particular individual is exposed to the substance he or she is allergic to. The most common things being aeroallergens like pollen, dust etc.
You mentioned that you have asthma and she had symptoms suggestive of allergic rhinitis. These could be one of the reasons for her present allergy. Using Monteleukast and Levocetrizine is good. But I also suggest you see an allergy specialist and go for specific allergen testing and immunotherapy which is coming up in a big way now.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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