Jumat, 27 April 2012

The schoolboy forced to wrap up like winter every day because he is allergic to COLD

The schoolboy forced to wrap up like winter every day because he is allergic to COLD

  • Aiden Smith is the youngest person with the rare condition in the UK
  • Comes out in a rash and can go into anaphylactic shock if he gets cold
  • He can't play outside, go on holiday or eat cold food

By Emily Allen

PUBLISHED: 10:09 EST, 26 April 2012 | UPDATED: 10:49 EST, 26 April 2012


A schoolboy is forced to live as if it is winter every day because he is allergic to the cold.

Aidan Smith suffers from cold urticaria - an allergy of cool temperatures - which only six people in the country are known to have.

The seven-year-old is constantly at risk of going in to anaphylactic shock and is never seen outside of his Bispham home without a hat, balaclava, scarf and gloves.

Aidan Smith suffers from cold urticaria - an allergy of cool temperatures - which only six people in the country are known to have.

Wrapped up warm: Aidan Smith suffers from cold urticaria - an allergy of cool temperatures - which only six people in the country are known to have

The primary school pupil comes out in hives, or skin rash, if he comes in to contact with conditions below his body temperature.

This prevents him from playing outside with his friends, going on holiday and eating cold food.

Aidan has even had a reaction in the heat of Spain because the cold sweat his body produced was colder than his core temperature.

He said: 'I can’t play outside the house with friends and it makes me sad. When it’s cold my mum won’t let me out in the cold and that makes me upset.

'When I play with my friends I run around a bit and get a bit hot, then I take my hat off, but that means I come out in spots.'

Aidan is a keen swimmer but his family has failed to find a public swimming pool with water hotter than 17 degrees.

Aidan with his mother Melissa. The primary school pupil comes out in hives, or skin rash, if he comes in to contact with conditions below his body temperature

Aidan with his mother Melissa. The primary school pupil comes out in hives, or skin rash, if he comes in to contact with conditions below his body temperature

Aidan added: 'I love swimming but can’t do it because of the cold.

'It would make me feel better if I was able to swim, but we can’t find anywhere to go.'

Aidan was diagnosed with the condition four years ago when his mother, Melissa, took Aidan to Blackpool Air Show and noticed he had suffered an allergic reaction from a light breeze.

She now has to carry special auto-injector - or Epi-pen - with her which delivers a dose of epinephrine or adrenaline to avoid or treat the onset of anaphylactic shock.

The 32-year-old said: 'He can’t live a normal life.

'It really upsets me but there’s nothing we can do about it, so we just try to make things as fun as possible when we go out. It’s really difficult for him because he can’t go outside and he thinks he has done something wrong when he can’t play with his friends just because it’s a bit cold.'

Aidan has seen 20 specialists about his condition since his diagnosis.

He is also the youngest known person to have the illness in the UK, which is more commonly found in men aged 18 to 24 years old.

His mother added: 'It can just be a little breeze in the summer that causes a reaction. He has asthma as well which means it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether he is having an asthma attack or an allergic reaction. He can’t have ice lollies or ice cream and has to brush his teeth with warm water.'

Dr Walter Bottomley, Aidan’s consultant dermatologist at Lytham’s Clifton Hospital for the last three years, said: 'Some people have it in a relatively mild or severe form, but we aren’t unfamiliar with it.

'Unfortunately the treatment we have for urticarias isn’t particularly good and the best treatment is to stay out of the cold.

'All I can say is that it seems to go in most people, but you can’t predict how long it’s going to last and you don’t come across adults who have had it all their lives.

'It will go in the end but with some people it takes weeks, sometimes months or even years if they are unlucky, so he has been unfortunate.'

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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I've got Heat Urticaria which is the opposite of his condition.I break out in hives and itch when im exposed to heat or sweat ;which means im allergic to heat.I hope theres solution to this condition soon.

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SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM AIDAN, Maybe your parents should consider to emigrate to a warmer climate......

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I have cold urticaria, diagnosed 7 years ago. All my life I had suffered from welts during particularly bracing winter days.. Winds were the worst. It was only diagnosed when I went swimming in the North sea and my whole body swelled up. Antihistamines keep mine under control. I find it hard to believe there are only 7 of us, my doctor was pretty dismissive when givng me the diagnosis. It really isn't as bad as this article implies, for example, how does Aidan know he enjoys swimming if he canlt go into a pool without going into anaphylactic shock? I really feel for Aidan as it isnlt the most fun condition to have. Yes if left untreated it can lead to death. Isnlt that the way with many illnesses, like Asthma? Good luck Aidan, you'll learn to cope with it :)

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My daughter aged five has cold ulticaria. We live in France and she too comes out in hives with cold air, but haven't been told to keep her inside like Aidan. We were told that she could lead a normal life and does have the right to play outside, even in the snow. It's a shame that Aidan isn't able to do the same. We've been told that the hives won't cause her skin any long term damage and that anaphylactic shock is extremely rare. My daughter's must bee less severe I guess. Good luck Aidan, I hope that you are able to do all the things your friends do.

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Poor little thing. He shouldn't have to live like that. I hope he gets 'better' soon

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