Although urticaria is less common in children that in adults, it is without doubt still a problem.
As adults we learn to cope with our conditions and most chronic urticaria suffers will not have experienced their condition until the age of 16+ (most commonly).
Children usually only suffer with acute urticaria, which basically means that they might suffer with one off attacks or at least infrequent.
But what causes children to develop urticaria in the first place?
Urticaria symptoms appear in children as they do in adults. In essence, the child will be exposed to a trigger or allergen. The trigger causes the blood vessels to open allowing chemicals to leak into the area under the skins surface.
This process is responsible for the swelling and the wheals developing on areas of the skin which in some cases can cover the entire body. Unfortunately as with adult urticaria the condition is normally considered idiopathic, which means there is no obvious reason.
Research into urticaria is limited, mainly because its considered to be nothing more that an allergy, which I think is a vast understatement and in most cases a misdiagnoses.
Urticaria Misdiagnoses
Whilst its true to say that the child as with an adult urticaria sufferer may be hypersensitive to certain allergens, I don't believe this is the root cause of the condition.
Many forms of urticaria have been re-categorized as auto-immune diseases, such as RA. Rheumatoid arthritis. I am sure as time goes by this might shed more light on urticaria in its many disguises.
My theory is this, child suffers of acute urticaria have inherited a gene or pre-disposition to urticaria, which ultimately leaves them pre-disposed to allergens from the word go.
How To Treat Urticaria In Children
Most cases of acute urticaria in children will disappear within 24 hours and in many cases never appear again or at least stay infrequent.
In the event of the condition growing more frequent in the child. It is my opinion that food diary's are recorded, keep a list of all of the foods the child consumes, include any drinks in your diary too.
Keeping such a list will help you identify any triggering food allergen.
Avoid white flour or products made with white flour.
Avoid processed foods, crisps, sweets/candy. Easier said that done with children I know. Try supplementing sweets with fruit. Apples contain fantastic antioxidant properties.
Avoid carbonated drinks and use filtered water where possible.
Obviously this is just a quick glance at how you can combat urticaria in children but its natural, safe and free to try.
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