Travelling welts/red marks?

[ktmama]

Beginning yesterday afternoon, my 25 mo began displaying red raised welts on her face and body (one or two at a time). They would disappear in about 30 minutes and appear somewhere else. They continued through today despite a warm bath and a regular diet (for both of us). However, yesterday at about 11:00 she ate a cinnamon roll. I think that's the first time she's had cinnamon. Any ideas about what it might be? She doesn't have a fever or any cold-like symptoms and her mood is normal. TIA.

[moonmama22]

I dont' have answers, but strangely enough - when my ds had cinammon for the first time, he got a red/rashly like appearance around his lips. It only lasted for a short time, but we thought it was a strange thing to be allergic to. He hasn't had these problems with cinnamon since, but he does get hives once in a while. When he was an infant, he got them a lot, with teething, colds, stress... We had testing for allergies, and nothing came up. They came and went, and then disappeared for about a year. Now, ds has an ear infection, and the hives returned! They make him irritable sometimes, but otherwise, he doesn't really complain about them. If they get really bad usually a dose of Claritan will take care of them, but we try to limit that to when it's really bad and they start itching. It just seems it is his bodies reaction to stress/illness. Could your dc be teething or have there been any stresses lately?

[WiffeyB]

My 8 yo daughter has been getting red welts since she was about 4. They aren't random though. She gets them anywhere she scratches or bumps into anything. I thought she just had sensitive skin. We took her off dairy when she was 6 for other reasons and they improved greatly. They flare up once in a while, but aren't much of a problem now.

[cat19]

They would disappear in about 30 minutes and appear somewhere else.

The appear/disappear spots are a classic characteristic of hives. Hives can be an allergic reaction or they can be of unknown origin.

*If* it was hives to cinnamon, then your child may be allergic to cinnamon, and I would be VERY cautious about any further cinnamon for her, esp as they weren't localized but systemic (i.e. all over her body). That was one of the first questions are allergist asked when DS#2 began developing food allergies: did he get hives? Any food allergy can become life-threatening, but apparently those kids who have hives are statistically at even higher risk.

I would keep a food log and avoid all cinnamon while asking for a referral to an allergist who handles kids with allergies, esp one who has dealt with kids with multiple allergies.

While cinnamon is not one the top 10 allergens, it's not that uncommon and can be quite serious. I would also join the forums at kidswithfoodallergies.org and do a search for cinnamon allergy. I know I have seen posts from people dealing with it.