Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Swollen Glands And Fever

Teachergrl

By Teachergrl
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Recommended Posts

Teachergrl Newbie
Teachergrl
Posted

Has anyone experienced occassional low-grade fevers with DH/celiac? Also, have you experienced swollen glands related to the DH rash? I am almost 100% positive that I have DH. Seeing my rheumatologist on Fri. My symptoms thus far have been: occasional fever, itchy, blistering, symmetrical rash on my face (jawline), and a few spots on my knees and scalp. I have also had a tingling/burning type feeling on my scalp. The glands in my neck are also slightly swollen. I am assuming this would be related to the rash. I have also found that my rheumatoid arthritis has flared as well. Has anyone experienced the symptoms I've listed?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Mother of Jibril Enthusiast
Mother of Jibril
Posted

There are several different types of rashes that can occur in people with immune complex disorders (like rheumatoid arthritis). I had a blistering, itchy rash on my hands, arms, and lower legs that I thought for sure was DH! I had it biopsied (one punch biopsy of a lesion and one biopsy of a clear spot next to the lesion), but it came back negative. Have you tried hydrocortisone cream? It might work, but if it doesn't then a biopsy is not a bad idea. DH only responds to the gluten-free diet and Dapsone.

BTW... the swollen glands and fever are also classic signs of an immune complex flare

captaincrab55 Collaborator
captaincrab55
Posted
BTW... the swollen glands and fever are also classic signs of an immune complex flare

Immune CompleX Flare... Is that another topic or can more be told about that here?

For many years I suffered with puffy jaws and a mild grade fever.. Doctors all referred to the mild grade fever as my norm.... Suffered all my life with it... Puffy jaws are gone since going Gluten Free...

Mother of Jibril Enthusiast
Mother of Jibril
Posted
Immune CompleX Flare... Is that another topic or can more be told about that here?

OK... here's my basic understanding of how immune complex disorders work.

The basic function of your immune system is to clear dead cells, virus, and bacteria (things that don't belong) out of your system. One way it does this is by generating antibodies. The antibodies link up with specific "antigens" (things that don't belong) to form "complexes." Then another set of proteins called "complement" surround the complexes so they stay soluble in your blood and can be quickly flushed out of your body by your liver and spleen. All kinds of problems can happen with this system...

1) Liver and/or spleen get overwhelmed

2) Not enough complement

3) Too many antigens (like an overwhelming bacterial infection)

4) Not enough antibodies (this happens to people with AIDS)

5) Too many complexes (can easily happen when you have an autoimmune disorder)

(There are more...)

Anyway... when your immune system gets overwhelmed, the complexes start dropping out of your bloodstream and getting lodged in various parts of your body, particularly the skin, joints, muscles, kidneys, eyes, brain, and cardio-vascular system. If the effects are mild (and temporary... like when you have a virus) you get things like achy joints or a headache. However... if the complexes start building up in large numbers you can get some really nasty effects like vasculitis, migraines, stroke, glaucoma, arthritis, kidney damage, etc... The immune complex disorders (lupus, RA, Sjogren's, MCTD, scleroderma, etc...) all work around this basic principle, but have different constellations of symptoms. In RA, for example, the complexes tend to cluster most heavily in the joints. In scleroderma the skin is under attack.

I hope that helps... minor swelling should be nothing to worry about. A long-lasting fever can be a sign of a chronic infection, one of the factors that can cause your immune system to become (temporarily or sometimes permanently) overwhelmed.

BTW... complexes are made during active celiac disease (the antigens include gluten and your own intestines), so that could explain why the swelling is gone when you're off gluten :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      FDA looking for input on Celiac Gluten sensitivity labeling PLEASE READ and submit your suggestions

      Thank you for sharing this — it’s really important. The FDA is actively seeking public input on improving gluten and ingredient labeling, which could directly impact how people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity shop and stay safe. Clearer labeling would help reduce accidental gluten exposure and make it easier to identify hidden sources of gluten in ...
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      Low iron and vitamin d

      A low tTG is great news, but it doesn’t always mean the small intestine has fully healed yet—iron and vitamin D absorption can lag behind for months or even years, especially in young children. Many kids need supplements for a period of time while the gut repairs itself, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be lifelong. Morning stomach pain is also ...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      Healthy Gluten Free Foods low sugar that you found?

      A lot of gluten-free packaged foods do rely on extra sugar, starches, or sodium to replace texture and flavor, so focusing on simpler options makes sense. Many people do better with naturally gluten-free proteins like eggs, plain yogurt, nuts, seeds, hummus, beans, and minimally processed protein bars with lower added sugar and higher fiber. Pairing those...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to lizzie42's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      1

      Trip to Anaheim/Disney

      This article is a few of years old, but my still be helpful.
    5. trents
      - trents commented on Scott Adams's article in Winter 2026 Issue
      14

      Can You Really Trust Gluten-Free Menus? What Every Celiac Needs to Know Before Eating Out

      This is likely dependent on the sensitivity of the individual celiac.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,243
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Maya Baum
    Newest Member
    Maya Baum
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      FDA looking for input on Celiac Gluten sensitivity labeling PLEASE READ and submit your suggestions

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Thank you for sharing this — it’s really important. The FDA is actively seeking public input on improving gluten and ingredient labeling, which could directly impact how people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity shop and stay safe. Clearer labeling would help reduce accidental gluten exposure and make it easier to identify hidden sources of gluten in foods. I encourage everyone here who is affected by celiac or gluten sensitivity to read the announcement and submit their own suggestions — real lived experience matters and can influence policy changes that benefit the whole community.
    • Scott Adams
      Low iron and vitamin d

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      A low tTG is great news, but it doesn’t always mean the small intestine has fully healed yet—iron and vitamin D absorption can lag behind for months or even years, especially in young children. Many kids need supplements for a period of time while the gut repairs itself, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be lifelong. Morning stomach pain is also commonly reported in celiac kids and can be related to slow healing, reflux, motility, or even low iron itself. It sounds like the supplements are clearly helping, which is reassuring, and ongoing monitoring with her doctor can help determine when (or if) doses can be reduced as absorption improves. The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. This article has more info:    
    • Scott Adams
      Healthy Gluten Free Foods low sugar that you found?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      A lot of gluten-free packaged foods do rely on extra sugar, starches, or sodium to replace texture and flavor, so focusing on simpler options makes sense. Many people do better with naturally gluten-free proteins like eggs, plain yogurt, nuts, seeds, hummus, beans, and minimally processed protein bars with lower added sugar and higher fiber. Pairing those with whole foods can help you feel more “normal” without triggering symptoms. Subscription boxes can be hit or miss, so checking labels carefully and using them as an occasional supplement—rather than a staple—often works best.
    • Scott Adams
      Trip to Anaheim/Disney

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This article is a few of years old, but my still be helpful.  
    • knitty kitty
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @McKinleyWY, For a genetic test, you don't have to eat gluten, but this will only show if you have the genes necessary for the development of Celiac disease.  It will not show if you have active Celiac disease.   Eating gluten stimulates the production of antibodies against gluten which mistakenly attack our own bodies.  The antibodies are produced in the small intestines.  Three grams of gluten are enough to make you feel sick and ramp up anti-gluten antibody production and inflammation for two years afterwards.  However, TEN grams of gluten or more per day for two weeks is required to stimulate anti-gluten antibodies' production enough so that the anti-gluten antibodies move out of the intestines and into the bloodstream where they can be measured in blood tests.  This level of anti-gluten antibodies also causes measurable damage to the lining of the intestines as seen on biopsy samples taken during an endoscopy (the "gold standard" of Celiac diagnosis).   Since you have been experimenting with whole wheat bread in the past year or so, possibly getting cross contaminated in a mixed household, and your immune system is still so sensitized to gluten consumption, you may want to go ahead with the gluten challenge.   It can take two years absolutely gluten free for the immune system to quit reacting to gluten exposure.   Avoiding gluten most if the time, but then experimenting with whole wheat bread is a great way to keep your body in a state of inflammation and illness.  A diagnosis would help you stop playing Russian roulette with your and your children's health.      
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.