I know what you mean. I wish I remember the medical source without looking it up, but the Zyrtec was recommended as an add-on therapeutic agent for an allergic reaction that wasn't responding properly to benadryl. It was either that or go to the emergency room on a week-end evening (which can also be traumatic if not dangerous!).
Actually, I am most leery of neurological and respiratory symptoms but there were none. There also weren't the projectile vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, and body temperature changes that sometimes accompanied his more severe allergic reactions. Of course, I could have been completely wrong but it didn't feel life-threatening that time. The problem with hives is also that it isn't uncommon for recurrence from the same exposure over a period of days and sometimes even weeks later.
I understand where you are coming from and mostly it is better to be safe than sorry. There are certainly enough tragic incidences. Heck, sometimes the chilling stories are enough to make a parent consider injecting with epinephrine as a preventative! I also don't want to over-react and freak out the kids as they are learning how to monitor their own allergic reactions. I struggle from time to time with balancing how much bubble-wrap to use. I tend to overuse with my oldest and under-use with the other two.
