Urticaria due to Urtica dioica in a neonate

Abstract

Urticaria is one of the most common dermatoses during the childhood, but it is very rare in the neonates. A 17-day-old infant with a generalized urticaria was admitted to our pediatric emergency unit. The mother of the infant reported having applied water boiled with stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) onto her nipples twice a day (before and after each breastfeeding) for 2 days in order to heal her nipple cracks. Serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE levels for stinging nettle were high in the infant and the mother. The rashes began to regress within the first day of the hospitalization and disappeared completely on the second day without treatment. The skin prick test with the water boiled with stinging nettle was positive for the infant with significant induration, but not for the mother. Conclusion Reporting the first urticaria case in newborns due to stinging nettle, the authors suggest that breastfeeding mothers should always consult a physician before using skincare products.

Stinging Nettle: the Bad, the Good, the Unknown

“…Specific immunoglobulin E levels for stinging nettle were high in the infant and the mother. 7 The mechanism of action of toxicity following the penetration of human skin and injection of liquid from the base glands of the nettle hairs as described earlier may be both biochemical and mechanical. Based on animal experiments, some of the trichomes may remain in the skin after contact and cause direct mechanical irritation.…”