Hives. Contagious or Not?

stef240377

My husband has been plagued with outbreaks of hives/ Erythema multiforme since thursday. He rang the out of hours GP service who advised taking an antihistamine. Did this immediately which seemed to calm the rash down until yesterday when he woke up with swollen face and mouth.
Again rang the out of hours GP who advised being looked at in the local minor injuries unit where there were a GP based. Again confirmed as hives and this time told to take Piriton 4 hourly and to cover areas affected with betnovate twice daily and within 24 hours should see a rapid decline in the areas. Well today it is more wide spread and angry looking so saw own GP purely because he needed clarification that he would be ok for a steroid infusion in a different hospital for pain relief for Ankylosing spondylitis. GP said no issues hospital would not stop infusion as they are aware of what it is etc.
Ring hospital ahead to let them know and are told he would not get seen today if he turned up as we do not know the source of the outbreak and they aren't taking any risks incase he is contagious so now i feel like we have gone round in circles as well as not getting any treatment to bring down the rash.

The GP at the hospital yesterday said they have seen an increased number of people turning up with the same symptoms and again no known reasons as to why. One old school friend commented his daughter has been struck by this during the past week and although she is 5 was given some strong steroids that have kept it under control.

Has anyone else had any experience of this? Not looking for medical advice just wanting experiences and how people have dealt with it.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

In a word, no.



Just means there's something in the area that people are sensitive/allergic to - and/or they're seeking treatment from the same place. (? New, improved soap powder perhaps? New scented shower gel?)

They have to be certain that he has an allergic reaction and not something horrid like impetigo, ringworm or suchlike, as (as you know) steroids reduce inflammation and depress the immune system, so any infection can be far more dangerous to him and anyone else immune compromised.


So he could do with being seen by the other hospital so they can confirm whether it is something they can or cannot proceed with.

wondercollie

Hive outbreaks are often seasonal. More pollen in the air, smoke, animal dander.

You won't know what is causing them unless allergy testing is done.

stef240377

Thanks. He hasn't just spoken to the out of hours phone service but physically seen a gp practising in the out of hours surgery based in the hospital along with own practice GP this morning. All of which have stated the infusion may of helped boost is antibodies thus benefiting him. It was the Rhuematology day unit that have refused to have him on site.

stef240377

Nothing in the household has changed, no new improved shower gels/washing powders or softeners etc all this was checked out initially on Thursday evening. All medications are the same - except for a 6 day course of Vitamin D on 11th October.

For it to be localised what sort of radius are we talking? The out of hours gp who we saw at the hospital yesterday is locum based and was covering a lot of the Midlands over the past week. Sutton Coldfield, Cannock aswell as Tamworth just to name the ones she gave us so thats a pretty big area.

Fire_Fox

You can become allergic to something you have used before at any time, in fact that is more common than allergies to novel substances. Don't forget things change like the temperature/ humidity outside, putting the heating on and many people do change their diet somewhat with the seasons.

stef240377

Thanks for all the replies. After a phone call back to the GP surgery they have agreed to a further appointment for my husband to be seen again to eliminate any allergies or infections so he can hurry up and get his appointment rebooked for steroid infusion to help ease pain.

divadee

This is weird. My mum is in hospital at the moment waiting for heart surgery next week and in the middle of the night last night came out in a terrible rash and hives.

Consultant came round first thing and confirmed it was an allergy rash but to what who knows?? They have stopped all medication and will introduce slowly again to see if it is that. I have bought all her clothes home to wash again incase it is that. (Now washed in non bio and comfort sensitive)

Interesting that a lot of people are suddenly coming down with this.

MoonJelly

My son came out in a rash last week. He's still taking antihistamines. The GP called it "urticaria". I happened to have a steroid topical cream at hand and that helped some. He is better today but I'm still scratching my head at what may have caused the rash. Especially as I am usually the one who gets rashes and stuff and this time...nothing.

skintbuthappy81

I had the same thing a few weeks ago, a rash all over my face and neck, I was told by the dr to take piriton every 4 hrs and use hydracortizone (I think it's spelt) a couple of days later it went.

Still don't know what caused the rash.

stef240377

Thanks Skint but hubby has had this now since thursday and its not getting any better. He has piriton to take 4 hourly and the betnovate cream to apply twice daily.