Is This Dh?

[desccc]

I had previously asked about DH in another thread.."new here with 12yr old daughter..."

My 12 yr old d has been diagnosed with gluten intolerance..her Gliadin Antibody IGG result was >100 with >17 being positive.

She tested negative to GAntibody (IGA) <3 and TTGA (IGA) <3, although we may be doing the other tests for the panel.

SHe has had atopic dermatitis starting at 2 months old with food allergies and had it moderate-severe as infant and toddler.

Since she was 5 yrs old her AD has been almost non existent, except for chronic itchy knees on the front. I have seen correlation of eating pasta and the next day having more itchy knees with little tiny tiny red bumps but also sometimes non read tincy tiny bumps. She also has these on the back of elbows but does not itch at all. She did have these sometimes on buttocks when young but not anymore.

My 9 yr old son also has the itchy knees and thighs bilaterally, and I see it more after pasta, the next day.

He also had eczema and food allergies when younger.

Can a pediatrician biopsy the skin to check for DH and does it need to be really flared, since the bumps are so tiny and not always red? If they test positive for DH does this mean that they most likely have celiac?

[Mother of Jibril]

If a biopsy proves that a rash is DH (based on IgA deposits), that gives you an automatic celiac diagnosis regardless of any other symptoms.

Eczema (AD) is itchy too. If I eat even the tiniest bit of casein, my breastfeed son gets eczema with little red bumps right across his cheeks My three-year-old daughter also had eczema as a baby (on her legs and the sides of her face). Gluten and dairy (casein) are the most likely culprits. It's worth trying to figure out, because babies with eczema are at a higher risk for asthma as they get older. A lot of people think kids outgrow their allergies, but I've read that your body just adapts. You're still allergic/intolerant, but the symptoms change... so eventually (if you don't change your diet) instead of eczema you get something like asthma or an autoimmune disorder.

[desccc]

I wanted to do an update as I started this thread.

My daughter's pediatrician has agreed to do the other celiac tests that she did not order several weeks ago, after I gave her info on the Columbia University EDU site a member here gave me. We are going to wait and do the other tests in a few weeks after she has had a significant amount of gluten.

She has been taking an enzyme for gluten "gltuenzyme" for several weeks. The blood tests she had came back negative, but we are using the enzymes mostly 3 meals a day now. In the beginning she was only taking it at breakfast and supper.

Tonight, she did not take her gluten enzyme at supper and this was a first. Within an hour and a half or so, she started itching rather intensly on her right knee and I took pics to show the ped as I think it looks like mild dh to me compared to what images I have seen o the internet. She did not have pasta and in the past the only times she would scratch both knees was usually the NEXT day after the pasta. Tonight she had some stuffing and mashed potatatoes turkey gravy but no bread.

BUT, it was only on on her right knee but it was more pronounced and red and itchy than usual.

My thoughts are that the gluten zyme was breaking down the gluten rather effectively and missing a dose when she usually has it 2-3 times a day has now set it off.

Rest assured we will not rely on the enzyme if we find out she does have DH. But this is quite fascinating.

From what I read if you have DH, there is an 80-90% chance you have celiac?? IN the past, she only had the knee breakouts when she ate pasta, but this incident tonight was redder and more itchy than usual..came on shortly after dinner instead of next day.

Thanks for your replies

[ravenwoodglass]

  desccc said:

From what I read if you have DH, there is an 80-90% chance you have celiac??

Thanks for your replies

A diagnosis of DH is a diagnosis of celiac.

[JenLawrence]

I have JUST begun research on this. My 9 year old has had eczema forever. A friend is going through testing for celiac, and is convinced that my son's itchy skin is actually dh. His first cousin was just diagnosed with celiac. The cousin is off dairy and gluten. That mom suggested I eliminate dairy first - because it's easier and may be all that's necessary. Any advice?

Thanks!

Eczema (AD) is itchy too. If I eat even the tiniest bit of casein, my breastfeed son gets eczema with little red bumps right across his cheeks My three-year-old daughter also had eczema as a baby (on her legs and the sides of her face). Gluten and dairy (casein) are the most likely culprits. It's worth trying to figure out, because babies with eczema are at a higher risk for asthma as they get older. A lot of people think kids outgrow their allergies, but I've read that your body just adapts. You're still allergic/intolerant, but the symptoms change... so eventually (if you don't change your diet) instead of eczema you get something like asthma or an autoimmune disorder.