Elephant Hands

So as we are booking out the door this am, M mentions that her head itches, her hands itch and she starts scratching herself like a madwoman. Lice F asks? I say, no way. With such vehemence and sudden impact? The backs of her ears were bright red and her hands were swelling and red and itching like crazy. What to do? We were just at the doctor so I call a dr. friend and hope that she and the nurse at my school (Saint Regina) will figure it out. Dr. friend says bus bite reaction. Nurse not there. Her medicine cabinet open so in the interim I slather M's hands in calamine lotion (now they are really pink and big!) and make her gulp down Benadryl (he age and weight are not on the box but I am almost a doctor right?). Saint Regina says it cannot be bug bites because there are no signs of bites. She suspects an allergic reaction to the antibiotic (pink liquid crap she has been taking for 10 days for last week's strep). Says I have to speak to our doctor. Easier said than done. Been on hold (second call today) since I started this post. AAHHHH. Just saw M at lunch and I asked her  (hands looked better post Benadryl and worse already 4 hours later) if they hurt/felt the same/better. M responds "All my fingers feel weird but it's okay." Now, our family is known for ugly sausage fingers. Mine are ugly but model-like compared to my father's, whose hands are delicate compared to his brother's (think elephant man). Poor M, she  now takes first prize for ugly hands as we figure out what the hell she is allergic to. I recently let out pediatrician know that I needed our files because we were switching doctors (new insurance). Since then, M has had two emergencies so they probably think I am kidding calling every week. Off hold. Someone will call me back. But I will be busy teaching so the phone tag will continue. Oy vey!