My niece s friend has had hives for two days, she is stressed about final exams and thought that perhaps that was the cause but now her fingers and hands are swelling, her lips are a little swollen but she is not having difficulty breathing, no swelling of her tongue or throat. She says the hives are on all her joints, elbows, knees, as well as on her hands, butt, legs arms face. She took a Claritin the other night and that helped but then the hives came back as well as the swelling. She hasn t eaten anything new. She has not had allergies in the past to seafood, nuts, milk, eggs, etc. She has not taken any antibiotics or other medications of any kind in the past few days. No new cleaning products or cosmetics. My niece called me so I did not see the hives so cannot describe it. She is very itchy. I suggested she get some benadryl.