DS (9 Years old) breaks out sometimes but has actually been doing good lately. He takes daily claritin in the spring, summer and fall. We have not actually done allergy testing, From what I can tell, he breaks out from pollen, ragweed, dust mites. A few times he has broken out and we never did figure out what it was. Yesterday he went to a swimming party. When he came home he had what appeared to be burns behind his knees and on his waist. I had him take a shower and I put some aloe vera on him.
He kept complaining of itching all over although I didnt see anything on the rest of him. we then went to his soccer game and after the game he had a rash all over his legs. Little red dots. He doesnt break out like that from grass or anything. He usually gets more of a hive. I gave him some benadryl. He complained all evening that it feels like he has a sunburn (the pool was indoors) I gave him some ibuprofen for pain. He fell asleep at 10:30 even though he had a friend over and didnt wake up until 8:00 this morning. (Long time for him) This morning the rash looks alot better but he said it still hurts and he really doesnt feel like doing anything. Any thoughts on what he could have reacted to? His eyes look like hes a raccoon. Red circles around them. Since he is not itching anymore, should I stop the benadryl now?

If he isnt cleared up by tomm. I will take him to the doctor, but he is not having any wheezing or anything so I dont want to take him on the weekend and have to see someone else.


Thanks for any input.

Maybe he's allergic to the chlorine or other chemicals that are used in pools.

I wonder about that. He has swam alot, his whole life, and never had a problem. I know it can develop though. Hopefully not. He was also in the hot tub and a friend said that sometimes people are allergic t o Bromine they use in hot tubs. I guess the only way to findout is to see what happens next time he goes.

there is a specific type of dermatitis that people can get from pools/hot tubs---and it's not from the chemicals, it's because of bacteria in the water. I'm drawing a blank on the name of it right now.

And as the rash heals, his skin may peel as well. If you have a lotion that you know he's not allergic too (Lubriderm unscented is usually a good one), I'd try to keep his skin moisturized to help w/ the healing process.

I'd discontinue the oral benadryl unless he complains of itching or other symptoms--and obviously you are aware of the breathing issues to watch for.

__________________
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Thanks for the ideas. He is starting to be more up and around so thats good. He is not complaining of itching anymore so I have not given him the benydryl. Good idea on the lotion. I may even put on some aloe vera, he usually does well with that. He said his eyes and legs hurt. Like a sunburn hurt. Wierd!

I checkd with the people who had the party and noone else is broken out.

I am very familiar with Uticaria of all types.I've had almost all of them. The redness behind his knees and around his waist sound like Dermographism to me.The redness behind knees is due to the pressure possibly caused from sitting on the pool edge with his legs in the water.There would be pressure from the pools edge on the back of his knees.The red around his waist cause from the pressure of the elastic band on his swim shorts.I have had this type before and there was once a time in my life where I had uticaria so bad I could not even wear clothes,or lean on any part of my body without hives.I did recover though ,"THANK GOD"!
The red dots on his legs could be prickly heat ,or could be from the friction of his socks.Was it just below his knees or his entire legs?
Also the redness and swelling of his eyes was most likely caused by the chlorine in the water. I use to get this too.

the red dots were all over his legs. What would have caused this to be a problem?

Was he wearing jeans? If so, its probably prickly heat.Or His legs probably got too dried out from swimming thus making his legs more sensitive than usual to the friction of his jeans on his legs,
Have him use moisturizer everyday on his entire body if he will and use especially after showers or swimming.

My child is on a school swim team. Every once in awhile it happens to him. He could swim at the school's pool many many times and nothing happens. Then all of a sudden one day it will. He has seasonal allergies and dry skin in the winter. I always assumed the reaction was from the chlorine being too strong. Now I am curious if it is from bacteria.

My son has very sensitive skin and we have to make sure that he showers as soon as he is done in the pool or he gets very rashy also. How deep was the pool? Waist high? Maybe that is why hes stomach area is bad. or from the swimsuit band.