Hives are red, raised, swollen areas on the skin that are very itchy.
They can appear on any part of the body, may come and go, and usually last from a few hours to a few days, but can stay for weeks or even months in some cases. The most common cause of hives in young children is a viral infection such as a cold or stomach virus. About 10 to 15 percent of infants will have hives at some point in their early childhood years. Babies who have developed an allergy to cats may also breakout in hives when they touch the kitty. A baby who has developed an allergy to penicillin may get hives when taking antibiotics such as amoxycillin, which is in the penicillin family.