Guest guest Posted June 15, 2003 Report Share Posted June 15, 2003 My son is 4, wcf, and has recently started scratching himself. He says he itches all over. He has scratched sores on his face, and I cannot keep him from scratching. Our doctor said benadryl is ok every now and then, but he is in misery. I have talked to our CF doctor and our peds, but no one seems to know why he is itching. Also, he says his bottom (anus) itches, and I can tell it does by how often he scratches at it. It is getting out of hand! I have tried every cream I can think of, but nothing seems to help. We are going to have him tested for allergies soon. Has anyone else had any similar circumstances? Any help would greatly appreciated. He is in misery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2003 Report Share Posted June 15, 2003 I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BRING SOME LAUGHS...but HAVE YOU TRIED " Preparation H. " . IT IS ODORLESS & IT REALLY WORKS......It isn't expensive, just to try it even. It certainly cant hurt.............I even used it on poison ivy on the kids, when we were camping. Just at the first , then kept it dry with calamine , once we got where I could buy some. Our bottle has spilled out in the first aid kit.....Sooooooooo, we improvised so they wouldn't scratch & be miserable until we got to store at campgrounds............Hope it works-- BUT it sounds like from inside ....meds, etc. Oh, there is also something they give to those with Chickenpox too. to stop the itching ........ ASK the doc about that too--- LOVE & HUGS, GRDMBEV Itching My son is 4, wcf, and has recently started scratching himself. He says he itches all over. He has scratched sores on his face, and I cannot keep him from scratching. Our doctor said benadryl is ok every now and then, but he is in misery. I have talked to our CF doctor and our peds, but no one seems to know why he is itching. Also, he says his bottom (anus) itches, and I can tell it does by how often he scratches at it. It is getting out of hand! I have tried every cream I can think of, but nothing seems to help. We are going to have him tested for allergies soon. Has anyone else had any similar circumstances? Any help would greatly appreciated. He is in misery! ------------------------------------------- The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO WAY be construed as medical advice. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR TREATMENTS. ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2003 Report Share Posted June 15, 2003 Hi , I empathize with you. My daughter had intense itching when she was very young. Benedryl and oatmeal baths and prescription cortisone lotions only dimmed it a bit. Often she scratched the calves of her legs until they were raw and infected with staph. She'd get a rash in the moist fold of the inside of her elbows and backs of knees. Finally, I linked it to red food coloring after she drank some red Kool-Aid that my sister gave her. Once we removed all foods, beverages *and* meds containing red dye the problem went away, though sometimes she'd still get exzema inside her elbows during hot, humid weather. Her skin used to be very dry, like mine, so her allergist recommend applying Vaseline Intensive Care Dermatology Formula after baths. More expensive but worth it. I'm wondering if your son has had recent lab work? If he hasn't, maybe it's time. Sometimes too much vitamin A or an iron deficiency can cause intense itching all over the body. Intense itching can also be a sign of liver or kidney problems. CF doctors routinely check liver enzymes at least annually. Has your son been swimming in chlorinated pools lately? Chlorine can irritate some people. It always irritated dried out my daughter's skin so after swimming in a pool she'd have to shower immediately and apply lotions. Ocean swimming was helpful and healing to her skin. Parasites such as body lice, chiggers and scabies can also cause intense itching. If he's scratching sores in his body, these might cover up the tell-tale signs of some parasites. If Benedryl isn't helping, you might consider supplementing with magnesium. Most people with CF are magnesium-deficient if they have malabsorption problems and are taking certain medications. Magnesium is necessary for blocking the histamine release. This is why you see magnesium-deficiency in people with allergies. Bathing in Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) will help his cells absorb magnesium, plus the addition of some essential oils may help. If he does have parasites, tea tree oil will help get rid of the little buggers. Just be careful so he doesn't splash the water in his eyes. Good luck pursuing the cause, but do stick with it. I know from my daughter's itching experience just how frustrating and helpless you feel. But it's such a relief when you learn the cause so you can correct it! Kim Mom to (23 1/2 with CF and asthma) and (20 1/2 asthma no CF -- but still very allergic to cats, rabbits, mold and dust mites!) > My son is 4, wcf, and has recently started scratching himself. He > says he itches all over. He has scratched sores on his face, and I > cannot keep him from scratching. Our doctor said benadryl is ok > every now and then, but he is in misery. > > I have talked to our CF doctor and our peds, but no one seems to > know why he is itching. > > Also, he says his bottom (anus) itches, and I can tell it does by > how often he scratches at it. It is getting out of hand! > > I have tried every cream I can think of, but nothing seems to help. > > We are going to have him tested for allergies soon. > > Has anyone else had any similar circumstances? Any help would > greatly appreciated. He is in misery! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2003 Report Share Posted June 15, 2003 Is he on any antibiotics? some people develop a skin reaction to them after being on them for an extended period of time. Hope he feels less itchy soon! Itching My son is 4, wcf, and has recently started scratching himself. He says he itches all over. He has scratched sores on his face, and I cannot keep him from scratching. Our doctor said benadryl is ok every now and then, but he is in misery. I have talked to our CF doctor and our peds, but no one seems to know why he is itching. Also, he says his bottom (anus) itches, and I can tell it does by how often he scratches at it. It is getting out of hand! I have tried every cream I can think of, but nothing seems to help. We are going to have him tested for allergies soon. Has anyone else had any similar circumstances? Any help would greatly appreciated. He is in misery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2003 Report Share Posted June 16, 2003 If they test him and find no reason for the itching, a drug called atarax works well. I used to itch all the time and asked my doc if there was anything I could do for it besides benedryl which wasn't working. He prescribed atarax and its been great! Just something you might want to ask about trying. love, M mom of age 19 wcf and Nick age 21 nocf wrote. > My son is 4, wcf, and has recently started scratching himself. He > says he itches all over. scratching. Our doctor said benadryl is ok > every now and then, but he is in misery. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2003 Report Share Posted June 16, 2003 The only time my son with cf had intense itching was when he had his first allergic reaction to peanuts. Benedryl controlled it that time. He's had two other allergic episodes with peanuts since then, but the itching only happened the first time (the last two episodes were MUCH scarier than itching!) ~ > My son is 4, wcf, and has recently started scratching himself. He > says he itches all over. > Has anyone else had any similar circumstances? Any help would > greatly appreciated. He is in misery! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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