Nettle Rash
Urticaria (Latin name)By Bjarne Lühr Hansen PhD, MD and Philipp Skafte-Holm MD, Mentor Institute
Nettle rash is a pinkish and violently itching rash that strikes many children. The nettles last for 2 to 3 hours then disappear and may reappear a different place on the body. After 24 hours, the nettles are usually disappears entirely. With most children, the cause of the nettle rash remains unknown but with some children, nettle rash is triggered by allergy, infection or a chemical condition. Nettle rash is treatable with allergy medication. In very rare cases, where the nettle rash is complicated by swelling in the face and the oral cavity, you must call the doctor immediately.
Nettle rash is a pinkish and violently itching rash that strikes many children. The rash consists of flat, pinkish swollen nettles in the skin. It actually looks like the rash you get from close contact with a stinging nettle. The rash can appear all over the body but appears frequently on the chest, the back and where the clothes are tight.
Nettle rash usually starts with an irritating itch. Shortly after the nettles appear, which can vary in size from small spots to larger coherent areas almost like a map on the body. The nettles last for 2 to 3 hours, then disappear and may reappear a different place on the body. After 24 hours the nettles usually disappears entirely.
With most children the cause of the nettle rash remains unknown. This is also of less importance since most only have a single or two cases of nettle rash. A few children suffer from reappearing or prolonged nettle rash. In those cases you should try and find out what is the cause of the nettle rash. Nettle rash is caused by allergy, infection or a chemical condition.
In the case of allergy, the nettle rash begins about an hour after the child has eaten. It can be caused by foodstuff (most often apple, egg, fish, nuts, shellfish, oranges or tomatoes) or medicine (most often penicillin). In the case of allergy the child will usually have a nettle rash every time the child eats what it is allergic to.
A lot of different infections in the throat, ear, lunge and stomach can trigger nettle rash. It is called nettle rash because the skin looks like the child has touched a stinging nettle. Some children with nettle rash also have a fever.
Plants (not just stinging nettles), jellyfish and bug bites contain chemicals that can cause nettle rash.