Hives themselves are not contagious among children. It is a common allergic skin reaction, and parents don't need to worry that it will spread among children like a cold, but daily care and timely medical attention are important.
1. Why is it not contagious?
The root cause of hives is usually an overreaction of a child's own immune system to certain substances, such as food, medication, pollen, or hot and cold stimuli. It is caused by internal factors, not by external infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses, and therefore cannot be transmitted to other children through contact, play, or sharing.
2. What situations should we be aware of?
Although urticaria is not contagious, some of the causes of it should be noted. For example, in rare cases, certain viral infections (such as the common cold) can trigger urticaria, and these viruses themselves may be contagious. In this case, other children may be infected with the virus but will not directly "catch" urticaria.
3. How to differentiate it from infectious rashes?
Infectious rashes, such as chickenpox or hand-foot-and-mouth disease, are usually accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever and lethargy, and the morphology and evolution of the rash follow specific patterns. Urticaria is characterized by wheals of varying sizes that are extremely itchy, appearing and disappearing quickly, and their location is not fixed.
If your child develops hives, stay calm. First, prevent your child from scratching, and think about whether they have recently been exposed to any new foods or objects. Take your child to see a doctor promptly to identify the allergen and use medication as directed by the doctor. This can effectively control symptoms and reduce recurrence.
