Guess what this is?

Name this rash!

a) Cranky Toddler Syndrome
b) Chickenpox
c) Urticaria aka Hives
b) Anxious Mama Bear Illness


The correct answer: all of the above except b.

Hives!!!!!

The Bear got HIVES!  Everywhere!

Shortly after I wrote this post, as in the day after, Ellie came home from school with these lovely raised, reddish bumps aka wheals on her arms, thighs, and the sides of her torso.  Hives.  Uck!  True to their annoying nature, hives seem to leave one area of the body only to reappear with a vengeance in another area, like the scalp, soles of the feet, and the nether regions.  Fortunately for The Bear, only her face was itchy and she didn't end up with any of the worrisome eye, lip, or tongue swelling.

Needless to say this mama bear stopped the administration of Augmentin ASAP and started a 48-hour round-the-clock Benadryl treatment.  This lead to--a) Cranky Toddler Syndrome and b) Anxious Mama Bear Illness as well as Drunken-Hyper Bear Syndrome and Tired-Hair-Pulling-Out Mama Sickness.

In speaking with our pediatrician's nurse, I have learned that antibiotic-related allergic hives can last over a week.  Oh goody.

It should be noted that I am blaming all of this, unfairly, on our ENT.  The tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy led to the development of pneumonia.  The pneumonia led to the prescription of Augmentin.  Which, in turn, led to the development of yeast (oh yeah, did I forget to mention the yeast?) and an allergic reaction.  Oh and get this. . . .are you ready?. . . . according to the ENT, Ellie still has some scabs in the back of her throat.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!

Poor Ellie Bear has hives and soon she will go through the horrible pain (again) of more scabs falling off. The fun never stops in this household.

On a happy note, Little Miss Sassy-Pants is back to her antics!

*Hives are nothing to joke about.  Hives aka Urticaria is a systemic allergic reaction to antibiotics such as penicillins, to foods, to contact allergens such as detergents/soaps/lotions, or to environmental allergens such as cedar.  In some cases, hives can be related to a viral or parasitic infection or the cause may never be identified (idiopathic urticaria). Angioedema is similar to hives, but the swelling occurs deeper in the tissues--this can be seen around the eyes, mouth, throat, hands, and feet.  This can be life threatening and is as such, an emergency. Typical treatments for hives involves antihistamines and in more severe cases, steroids.  Hives tend to resolve on their own anywhere from a few hours to weeks. People with hives should be evaluated by a health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

**Fun Facts about Augmentin: an allergic reaction tends to emerge around the end of the course of treatment or a few days after (Ellie's was on day 9).  Augmentin IS in the class of penicillins.  It is amoxicillin + clavulanate acid.  Therefore, if you are allergic to Augmentin, you are probably allergic to amoxicillin, penicillin, and all the other penicillin drugs.


Hives and Angioedema. Mayo Clinic.

Hives. American College of Dermatology

Augmentin. Drugs.com