Prednisone for Swimmer's Itch?

Our family recently spent a week in Florida and we spent some time in the ocean. About a week after we returned, DS1 developed a rash on his inner thighs and a spot on his chest. As time went on, satellite bumps developed. They turned into blisters/pustules and it hurt so much he could hardly walk.

I wish he had told me sooner, as I don't regularly see his inner thighs. As soon as he told me and I saw what was happening, I took him to the dr. They said it is cercarial dermatitis and that DS1 basically had an allergic reaction to swimmer's itch. They prescribed oral prednisone at 40 mg for 4 days, 30 mg for 3 days, 20 mg for 2 days and 10 mg for the last day.

He has taken two doses of it and is using a topical steroidal cream as well.

How long should I wait before seeing a specialist? He said it was better this morning after his first dose last night (we give it in the morning, but had just received the rx last night and he needs relief, so we started that night). I gave him another dose this morning. He was better, but then by evening he was again in so much pain. I gave him some advil and some benadryl to help with pain and sleep (I rarely give my kids any OTC drugs at all, but he was in so much pain).

I suppose I'll see how he is in the morning but how many days should it take for the prednisone to at least start helping? His face was flushed tonight, and I had him apply a little bit of the topical cream on his cheeks, too. He is the one hurting, and I am the one who feels like crying...

12 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

My DD has has swimmer's itch 3 times. Apparently, with each exposure, the allergic reaction is stronger and faster. We have never gone to the doctor, however, just treated the bumps with anti-itch meds and used a little benadryl. It is miserable for a few days, but DD complained of itching, but no real pain. I'd let your Doc know that he is hurting so badly and see what he/she says.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

I've never had swimmer's itch (never heard of it!) but I've had other bad allergic skin reactions (detergents, soaps, etc). I've found that for a reaction of the scale that you're describing, it usually takes 4-5 days on the ten-day pack, to really start seeing and feeling long-lasting relief.

Benadryl, in my opinion, is one of the best antihistamines for itching that there is, and it's over the counter. There is also another that is prescription, and is even better, but I don't know if they prescribe it for kids: hydroxizine (sp?). It makes me even sleepier than bendadryl, but it also seems to last longer.

Beth Ann is right, you should let the doctor know about the pain. Poor sweetie! I hope he feels better soon!

Anonymous

I'd stick with Benadryl.

Glory

I think if he isn't starting to feel some relief in another day or two you should call the doctor and ask for a recheck.

DonnaF

Do NOT stop the prednisone w/o tapering off. Generally, some relief should be noticeable after two days. I am very, very sensitive to Benadryl so I buy the liquid kids' stuff so I can finely calibrate the dose so it is just enough to help but not so much as to make me loopy and groggy. Poor baby! (Hey, I would say that about my kid if she were sick even if she were 40!)

Echo

I did notice some difference this morning. Yesterday the spots on his chest were all red in between and he still had liquid-filled blisters on his legs, but today I can see normal skin between the spots on his chest and there are no more filled blisters on his legs (they are all empty and/or crusted over).

I definitely will not stop the prednisone without tapering, and it looks like he will take the full 10 day course anyway, as he will need them. The steroid cream helped during the day today (I sent it to school with him), and I also put DH's compression shorts (for exercise) on DS (they aren't compression on him, just slim fitting on the thighs). They worked like hosiery can sometimes work for women by reducing friction and thus reducing his pain.

It is just frustrating and scary to see a child with such a horrible reaction and to not be able to immediately help, kwim? We both feel a little bit better now that we can see some difference, but the change can't happen soon enough. Poor guy.

Prednisone is a great and very cheap drug; there's nothing like it for inflammation and I would not hesitate to take it again if needed. Males may not be as sensitive, but for my SIL and me it is highly psychotropic; we go all wacko. Both of us have had to take it for extended periods of time, so maybe that was part of the issue. But if DS goes emo on you, it is the prednisone and not him. There's even a book titled Coping with Prednisone, lol.

lyn*

Usually the risk of going "whacko" with prednisone occurs when you suddenly increase or suddenly decrease the medication. That being said, you can have psychological changes even if you are on a stable dose of the medication. You can become quite not yourself on the medication; if you notice this happening, you should go back to the doctor and/or ER.

I am so glad to hear he's getting relief! Poor sweetie, he won't forget this for a long time.

Category