My toddlers agonizing bug bites?

Question

My son is 20 months old and recently went to a farm with his father. The next day the child was COVERED with bug bites. He's scratched the day lights out of them and they look awful. I took him to the dr they suggested Prednisone (I'm awful leary of putting my young'n on a steroid!) so they then suggested cortisone and aveeno baths. I give him benadryl at night but I would love to hear some more options! Pease help!!

Answer 1

Baking soda relieves itiching make a paste using water with it and apply to bites. Warning though once it dries it will slowly wear come off. Also try a bath with baking soda. I have done the same thing on myself.

Answer 2

what your doctor told you was good advice, also oatmeal in the bath will help sooth the bites. Keep him in a cool place also. cold tends to also ease the itchies!

Answer 3

Make a paste out of baking soda and water.  It will pull the itch out.  He'll forget about them and they can heal.

Answer 4

Try and keep him in a cool place, preferably air conditioned.  I know heat often makes rashes and such flare up so keep him cool and put and ice pack on the really non stop itchy spots.  Ask your doctor how they feel about some calamine lotion.

Answer 5

this may sound a bit odd but i found it works reallly well. buy some antibacterial hand soap (the liquid kind like dial) and put a dab of that on the bite. dont wash it off or anything but dont use alot either

Answer 6

I get prickly heat which drives me nuts.

If you are in the UK boots sell magicoolplus.

It is a spray that cools and takes out the itch it works on insect bites too as my husband was bit by horse-flys!!

I have tried and tested loads of stuff and apparently this is new out this year and really works.

Answer 7

dont be scared to give him prednisone even though it says steroid it is dont get me wrong but this what lots of people fear is steroids dont worry its not like gonna make him shake whatever ur worried about happening... i know common fear happened to me too... but the doctor said itll fine i trust my doctor... um... i would suggest aveeno baths thats what i would give my child when she got chicken pox i gave aveeno baths and it worked perfectly... benadryl will help but he needs more than that... even just put oatmeal in his bath itll work just the same

hope i helped

Answer 8

they have stuff called afterbite for bites that are itchy, but if you rather not put that stuff on your child (which I understand) try using toothpaste. It dries them and makes them a lot less itchy.

Answer 9

Go to the drug store and buy a bottle of Campho-Phenique, and if you don't have any cotton swabs, get a package of those.  Dip a swab into the bottle and smear over your son's bites ... they should stop itching IMMEDIATELY.  You may need to swab him hourly at first, but there is NOTHING in Campho-Phenique that can hurt a toddler or even a newborn ... it works, it's relatively inexpensive, and I now keep both in my first aid kit ... right next to that Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) for allergies (I'm allergic to wasp stings).

Answer 10

give him an antihistamine.

ask your pharmacist for one suitable for his age.

we have piriton here, but there are loads to choose from

Answer 11

campho-phenique is made for cold sores, but is very effective on other skin eruptions. If you can get him to wear soft mittens so he can't scratch they will heal faster.

Answer 12

Oatmeal Baths and Aveeno or Avon anti-itch spray works well. You can also try letting him swim in a pool (it helps promise my daughter has the same prob and it cleared her up for some reason) Hrm' Eucerin Anti Itch Lotion and Cortison like recommended are really really good. Or go to the store and get "After Bite" and it might take a while haha but put it on every one it helps.

I would NOT use prednisone.. I dont know if its the lotion or the pill but OMG he will be like on crack if you do that! It also thins the skin and they arent supposed to prescribe it to children under 2 EVER it has been known to cause skin cancer in infants and at 20M they are still considered that. I would look into a new doc :0( he doesnt have the best interest of your child in mind just a quick fix.

Answer 13

It might sting initially, but regular listerine will dry it up and heal those nasty old bites in no time.