Fever From Gluten?

[tannilisa]

Hi, my husband has celiac disease and since last Sunday has progressivly felt worse, he ate at The Outback resteraunt from thier supposed gluten free menu. He came home that night with a nasty blister on his upper lip, he says it came on as he was eating, ever since then his whole body aches, and he's had a fever since yesterday, tonight is it close to 101, he has no symptoms other than the achy body. I'm a bit concerned and was wondering if he's had contact with gluten, could it cause fever like this? I'm keeping an eye on the temp. right now and will definitly take him to the ER if it gets too high, thanks for any help or info

Tanya~

[Lisa]

I had the same effect after eating oysters out of season. I had terrible cramps and a fever and I bit the head off of anyone who talked to me. With a conpromised immune system, I bet he got into some food that was not fresh or perhaps contaminated. It will go away, just keep alot of fluids in him and he'll feel better by morning.

Maybe he ate some bad beef, it happens. Sometimes, every time we get sick we try to blame it on Celiac. Sometimes, it can be just bad food. I think that it will pass soon. If his fever gets past l03, maybe you should take him to the ER. Water, and lots of it should reduce the fever and a cool shower , Aleve to reduce the fever.

Research what he ate. Hope he feels better soon. Hope he feel better soon.

Lisa

[Laura]

It doesn't sound like any reaction to gluten I've ever heard of (though that doesn't mean someone hasn't had it). Also, I know people who know they've been glutened fast, but not usually while they're still eating (unless it was a long meal I guess).

But sounds more like some kind of unfortunate flu. Typically food poisoning doesn't involve fever.

[tannilisa]

Thanks for your replies, his fever broke the next day, It's just strange how it came on so quick He agreed to go to his doc. of it happens again, but hopefully it won't Thanks again!

Tanya~

[Mme]

Exposure to gluten *can* cause spiking fevers and terrible joint pains in some people. Especially if they've had other infections recently or something else to weaken their bodies. It's a symptom of the autoimmune response. The mouth blister is also a typical gluten thing.

Definitely try Tylenol and cold cloths to bring down the fevers. Also, oddly, hot baths help the joint aches. Don't know why.

Bring him in to an ER if he gets a fever over 103 or has trouble breathing. Antihistamines can help.

(NB the oysters reaction could be a shellfish allergy, not bad oysters. I get fevers from scallops. And it's unusual not to puke or have severe GI distress from food poisoning)

[kabowman]

I always run a fever when I have anything with yeast - I went years with fever problems before I figured it out. I say it is a possiblity but he could also be sick - who knows sometimes!

[Guest BERNESES]

I'm so glad Ii saw this topic. When I get gluten in me, I do run a fever. It's not a real fever- my normal body temp is usually 95-96 range, when I get glutened it spikes up to 98-99 which technically isn't a fever, but to me it feels like it is. I always thought it would make sense because if you're immune system is mounting an attack on something (a germ, an ifection, bacteria) your temp usually goes up.

[Diagnosed]

I'm suffering from an exposure now (my first this year) and have an elevated temperature. Chills, muscle aches, joint pain, typical flu-like symptoms, but no respiratory problems. I've been successful eating out at PF Chang's, they appear to get it right (at least I haven't had problems in ten-or-so visits). I do take my own silverware/chopsticks, however.

Dirty forks and plates are a chronic problem with restaurants that claim gluten-free-capable... it simply isn't on the radar.

I hope he's feeling better; I'm wishing the clock could spin forward by three weeks to clear my situation.

  On 4/28/2006 at 11:23 PM, tannilisa said:

Hi, my husband has celiac disease and since last Sunday has progressivly felt worse, he ate at The Outback resteraunt from thier supposed gluten free menu. He came home that night with a nasty blister on his upper lip, he says it came on as he was eating, ever since then his whole body aches, and he's had a fever since yesterday, tonight is it close to 101, he has no symptoms other than the achy body. I'm a bit concerned and was wondering if he's had contact with gluten, could it cause fever like this? I'm keeping an eye on the temp. right now and will definitly take him to the ER if it gets too high, thanks for any help or info

Tanya~

[Lisa]

Just a side note here, this thread originated in 2006. The information may not be current.

[GraemeH]

I know this thread is over 10-years old but I'm sitting here in front of the computer, shivering, with headache, fever (101.5) and joint pain. We did eat at a new restaurant yesterday and within hours I knew I had been glutened (from the stomach pain, gas, headache, etc.) And I've had similar symptoms in the past from being glutened, though not quite as high fever.

But I've NO doubt that my current state is due to being glutened. 

[cyclinglady]

  On 1/15/2017 at 10:00 PM, GraemeH said:

I know this thread is over 10-years old but I'm sitting here in front of the computer, shivering, with headache, fever (101.5) and joint pain. We did eat at a new restaurant yesterday and within hours I knew I had been glutened (from the stomach pain, gas, headache, etc.) And I've had similar symptoms in the past from being glutened, though not quite as high fever.

But I've NO doubt that my current state is due to being glutened. 

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Hope you feel better soon!  

Say, you should be dining at Gourmet Girls Girls on Oracle.  Open for dinners now.  Also you can get breakfast and lunch at Dedicated located on Speedway.  We eat there each time we are in town.  Both are 100% gluten free!

Dedicated has Challah bread baked on Fridays.  It goes fast!  

Edited January 16, 2017 by cyclinglady

[Kathwerk]

I seem to get fevers with contamination.  I can't find any literature to support my symptom. Im going to call my gastroenterologist and ask him about it. Mine only last a couple of hours though . I hope you get an answer.  Good luck.

[Monica Guzman]

I have been suffering from high fevers since I developed gluten sensitivity. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 15. Of course, doctors didn’t believe my mom when she told them I couldn’t hold down food or water. I go through several psychiatric evaluations before ordering the endo- and colonoscopy to determine the real cause of my malaise. Fast forward 20 years, around the age of 35, I started to develop fevers out of nowhere, but I noticed that it was always on the weekends or by Monday that I was getting these fevers. I thought it was a strange manifestation of rejection for my body to react to going back to work! My mother, who has always been my “thought leader” regarding my condition, pointed out that the days I ate pasta or pizza were typically on Sundays. It was undoubtedly the case.I was on a diet and exercise regimen for quite some time, which helped me stay in Crohn’s disease “remission” since I was 29 y/o. Sundays was my cheat day, I would typically have the starchy foods pasta, pizza, or ramen. So I purchased gluten-free pasta and experience zero symptoms. However as some time had past, I made ramen on a Sunday forgetting about my experiment. Low and behold by midnight I shivering with a fever of 103. This confirmed the reason I felt funny after eating an occasional sandwich at jimmy john’s or sushi with the soy sauce. My extreme reactions always stemmed from pasta or noodles. I asked my GI to test me for gluten allergy or if it was possible that I was misdiagnosed. He has no doubts that I have Crohn’s but said that it was possible to develop a gluten allergy although fevers are not “conducive” to fevers. I have read several forums of people like me who are going through the same turmoil with people and professionals discounting their symptoms being related to gluten saying that it’s a flu or food poisoning but, it’s not, I get high fever with chills, joint pain when I eat noodles. I am getting progressively worse, to the point that my latest episode of high fevers was caused by eating a gluten-free roll at a family's home. Although the toaster pan was switced out, I was given butter from the same tub as everyone else. Other than that I literally just had cottage cheese and papaya. 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Guzman!

First, you keep referring to "gluten sensitivity" and "a gluten allergy". Do you mean celiac disease? There are two primary classes of gluten-related disorders: 1. Celaic Disease and 2. NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). Neither is truly and allergy, though it is possible to have an allergy to the gluten in wheat, barley and rye. Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder and NCGS is a little difficult to classify from an immune system standpoint.

Having said all that, you need to be tested for celiac disease. The first stage of testing involves a blood draw with lab analysis to check for celaic antibodies. You should request this of your physician.

We have seen other reports on this forum of those who experience fevers in connection with a gluten disorder.

Edited September 17, 2023 by trents

[Monica Guzman]

  On 9/17/2023 at 3:25 PM, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, Guzman!

First, you keep referring to "gluten sensitivity" and "a gluten allergy". Do you mean celiac disease? There are two primary classes of gluten-related disorders: 1. Celaic Disease and 2. NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). Neither is truly and allergy, though it is possible to have an allergy to the gluten in wheat, barley and rye. Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder and NCGS is a little difficult to classify from an immune system standpoint.

Having said all that, you need to be tested for celiac disease. The first stage of testing involves a blood draw with lab analysis to check for celaic antibodies. You should request this of your physician.

We have seen other reports on this forum of those who experience fevers in connection with a gluten disorder.

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Hi there,

So when I asked my GI to be tested for Celiac in case I may have been misdiagnosed, he claimed it was not necessary since he had no doubt that I have Crohn’s disease which is also an autoimmune disorder. He simply said that I may have developed an intolerance or sensitivity and to just stay away from gluten containing foods if meant feeling better. I do well when I follow a strict gluten-free diet but lately I've been really sensitive and thrown off my random episodes even after being extra careful. I now react to the slightest cross-contamination. I'm not claiming to have celiac since  my doctor explained his reason not to test me for celiac but I most definitely react to gluten in the same manner that it has been expressed in many forums such as this one. The symptoms are debilitating: fevers, joint pain and headache, heart palpitations even swollen nasal passage, sore throat and runny nose. I've gone to urgent care to test for covid or the flu because as usual certain ppl around me want to discount my claim that my malaise is related to being exposed to gluten. I will plead for my doctor to test me for Celiac at my next appointment in case there is some co-existence of Crohn's and Celiac.

[trents]

As long as you are truly eating gluten free, to know whether or not you have either celiac disease or NCGS won't change anything. The only antidote for either is a gluten-free diet anyway. A lot of  people psychologically need a formal diagnosis in order to be consistent with their gluten free diet, however. Otherwise they rationalize cheating on the diet. There are also third party companies that offer at home celiac disease tests in cases where physicians are obstinate and won't order the tests. I think these at home test kits cost around 100 USD.

I will say this, however, and that is, people are often misdiagnosed with various bowel diseases who actually have celiac disease instead.

[Monica Guzman]

  On 9/17/2023 at 4:48 PM, trents said:

As long as you are truly eating gluten free, to know whether or not you have either celiac disease or NCGS won't change anything. The only antidote for either is a gluten-free diet anyway. A lot of  people psychologically need a formal diagnosis in order to be consistent with their gluten free diet, however. Otherwise they rationalize cheating on the diet. There are also third party companies that offer at home celiac disease tests in cases where physicians are obstinate and won't order the tests. I think these at home test kits cost around 100 USD.

I will say this, however, and that is, people are often misdiagnosed with various bowel diseases who actually have celiac disease instead.

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Thank you for that information.

[knitty kitty]

Welcome to the forum, @Monica Guzman! 

Yes, it is possible to have Crohn's and Celiac Disease together.  We have several members who do.  

I get fevers if I get exposed to gluten.  I also get fevers if exposed to dairy.  About half of Celiacs react to dairy the same as gluten because dairy molecules resemble gluten molecules.  

Ask your doctor for a  genetic test for Celiac.  Blood tests would require you to be eating gluten for two to three months in order to get your antibody levels high enough for blood testing. 

I got sick and couldn't eat gluten that long, so I had a false negative on my blood tests.  Anemia and Diabetes can also cause false negatives on blood tests for CeD, too.  I got a DNA test which showed I have two genes for Celiac, but only one is needed.

You could ask your doctor for a referral to a gastroenterologist who would do a endoscopy and biopsy of the small intestine.  Damage to the small intestine is a hallmark of Celiac Disease.  

Damage to the small intestine can cause malabsorption of nutrients which results in malnutrition.  Celiacs should be checked for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  

Keep us posted on your progress!  

[Wheatwacked]

  On 9/17/2023 at 4:39 PM, Monica Guzman said:

So when I asked my GI to be tested for Celiac in case I may have been misdiagnosed, he claimed it was not necessary since he had no doubt that I have Crohn’s disease which is also an autoimmune disorder.

Expand Quote  

He, unfortunately, is misinformed.

"Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection. As immune cells in autoimmune diseases are responsive to the ameliorative effects of vitamin D, the beneficial effects of supplementing vitamin D deficient individuals with autoimmune disease may extend beyond the effects on bone and calcium homeostasis."   Vitamin D and the Immune System

 

[Guest]

Celiac causes an autoimmune reaction. Your body attacks itself the same way it would attack a virus. We get inflammation, sores, rashes, fever, chills, cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and a number of other typical symptoms associated with viruses, allergies, etc. 

But we also get sick with other things. His symptoms could be due to an autoimmune reaction but could also be caused by a virus such as herpes simplex, which causes mouth sores, fever, etc, especially when you first get it. 
 

With symptoms this bad it’s definitely important to see a doctor. 

[Beverage]

That's more like the symptoms I get after being glutened, like a flu, joint and muscle aches and mentally down.  Sometimes I get a low fever, but I rarely get fever normally, even with Covid I didn't get above 99, normal temp is 97 max.  That's the frustrating part, never really know if it's gluten or a cold/flu.  Only difference for me since I don't usually get the big D, is with gluten, a bubbly fizzy feeling in intestines, like really good soda pop fizzing and a little ick bloatey feeling, and I don't feel like eating.  With flu/cold, no problem eating.