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Can Cake Cause Hives?

My son ate some cake at a birthday party, and the next day he had a terrible case of hives. What causes hives? Could it have been the cake?
- Sara

Hives are raised, itchy patches on the skin caused by an allergic reaction. They can last for a few hours or a few days. Hives develop when a person is allergic to something (like cake, nuts, shellfish, strawberries, or even medicines, stress, or the sun) and the body releases a chemical called histamine. Histamine causes blood plasma to leak from small blood vessels under the skin, and hives soon appear. Although most hives go away on their own, it's always a good idea to see the doctor if your child gets hives frequently or if you need help figuring out what's causing them. See the doctor immediately if the hives are accompanied by wheezing or breathing trouble.

For more information, check out this article.
Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: September 2006

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