Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

2 Yr Old Dh?

Momma4

By Momma4
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Recommended Posts

Momma4 Rookie
Momma4
Posted

I'm not sure my link to these pictures will work, but I will try. My 10 yr old son is being tested for Celiac. He has all the classic signs. However, my 2 yr old has a rash that concerns me, after reading about DH. Does anyone have any thoughts if this looks like DH. It is extremely itchy, and he cries when he can't 'get to it' to itch it. He seems to get it on both sides of his body at the same time. If my link to the photos doesn't work, any advice on how to upload photos from an iPhone would be great.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

There's no reason it couldn't be.

Find a dermatologist that is knowledgeable about biopsying for DH and get one.

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Awwwwwwwww POOR BABY! Breaks my heart. It sure looks like a lot of my dh does at times. I echo Prickly --- find a derm who is knowledgeable about dh & the biopsy procedure & get it done. And if he's still eating gluten you can go to the GI doc of your 10 yr. old & get this little one tested too.

It's eerie how on his back the rash is bilateral. I have a lot of dh that does exactly that.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

Aww poor baby :-( I hope it doesn't burn as well! Do you have any diagnosed celiacs in the family? Maybe you should test both children.

Momma4 Rookie
Momma4
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for your comments everyone. We don't have any diagnosed celiacs in the family, but lots of gastrointestinal issues and autoimmune disorders. I had always assumed that he just had eczema. It has always flared up and then subsided. But then a couple weeks ago when my 10 yr old was tested, I started doing research on celiac disease. What struck me was the symmetry of the rash. He also has some under his armpits on both sides. Today he told me his back hurts. He has been lactose intolerant since he was 12 months too.

I took him to his doctor today to show him the rash. I asked if it could be DH but he really didn't know much about it at all. He asked me to tell him about DH and then he said to wait until we get the results for my other son, and if he's positive then all 4 of my kids will be tested. So I guess the waiting game continues for now.

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Can you call his doctor & ask if you can use benzocaine 20% on him? It stops the itch --- really! It won't make the rash go away but it will give him relief. He can't touch it & then touch his eyes. It's the ingredient in Solarcaine, Bactine & Orajel & maybe a few other things. But I wouldn't use it unless his doc says it's okay. I'm not a doctor & that's a baby we're talking about so I would check first.

Otherwise, witch hazel helps to cool & stop the itch for a while. Moisturizing helps. I think too it helps to cut off the air to the rash so coat it with Vaseline & see what relief comes of that. If I have a single spot or a group close together I will put Vaseline or ointment on it & cover it with a band-aid --- it helps a lot but when it's widespread like in the photos it's pretty hard to cover the entire area with a bandage.

Ice packs help. NO hot baths. Use as cool of water as he can stand b/c heat just irritates it & it reddens & itches like the very devil.

GI issues & AI disorders in the family is a big clue.

Momma4 Rookie
Momma4
Posted
  • Author

I can ask his doctor about that. He gave me a cortisone cream to put on it. Will that help? We slather him with cream daily. Like I said, it comes and goes (but never really goes completely away). It just seems to be really bad lately. And he's always itching it.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Most people with dh have said cortisone cream helps only minimally. I tried it & it did zilch for me. I tried everything under the sun & the things I listed were the only things that gave me any kind of relief at all. One thing you can do right now is to make sure that whatever you're using on him topically is gluten free. And that includes shampoos, soaps etc... powders --- everything. If it is dh then topical gluten can cause problems like eating gluten. NO oatmeal derived stuff either.

Call his doc tomorrow & ask about the benzocaine. And I will warn you that if he wants to prescribe oral steroids there is a big consequence to pay when he goes off them if it is dh. It will likely flare like you won't believe!

There are lists on this site for gluten free shampoos, lotions etc... Use the search box for the site.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

Topical , oral, and injectable steroids will invalidate Celiac testing.

Twoxxmom Rookie
Twoxxmom
Posted

Topical , oral, and injectable steroids will invalidate Celiac testing.

How long do those take (oral steroids) to get out of your system? My derm. wants to prescribe Decadron for me.

Momma4 Rookie
Momma4
Posted
  • Author

Wow, there is so much to learn. I will research what ingredients are in all the products I use on him.

And Prickly, it would invalidate a skin biopsy, but not the blood test right? (I wouldn't do the oral or injectable steroids)

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Great point Prickly!

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

I have no idea if topicals would invalidate a biopsy or blood test, but I would assume it would.

I don't know for how long, I assume it would depend on dose and length of use. I'd guess a few months would be the guideline, since it supposed to help send ai into remission (similar to going gluten-free).

Think about it, they treat refractory Celiac with steroids.

Di2011 Enthusiast
Di2011
Posted

I'm not sure my link to these pictures will work, but I will try. My 10 yr old son is being tested for Celiac. He has all the classic signs. However, my 2 yr old has a rash that concerns me, after reading about DH. Does anyone have any thoughts if this looks like DH. It is extremely itchy, and he cries when he can't 'get to it' to itch it. He seems to get it on both sides of his body at the same time. If my link to the photos doesn't work, any advice on how to upload photos from an iPhone would be great.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Hi Momma4,

I have / having head to toe DH the past 11 months. My son (9y/o) is having loads of itchy/scratchy that is calming with gluten-free diet.

The photos I have seen that you posted are very indicative of gluten intolerance. Read as much as you can about getting the tests done. There is a very high 'negative' result from tests for people who have DH.

Can you find a dermatologist in your area who has experience with DH?

Momma4 Rookie
Momma4
Posted
  • Author

When I showed the doctor the rash, he said he wanted to wait until we get results for my 10 yr old son. Its been a month and we are still waiting. He doesn't want me using anything but cortisone cream at this point. We don't have a dermatologist locally (she retired last year), so I will have to travel an hour and a half away to see one. That's ok though, as we will have to travel to the same location to se a pediatric GI anyway. He's still itching, but it seems to be lessening a bit.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

When I showed the doctor the rash, he said he wanted to wait until we get results for my 10 yr old son. Its been a month and we are still waiting. He doesn't want me using anything but cortisone cream at this point. We don't have a dermatologist locally (she retired last year), so I will have to travel an hour and a half away to see one. That's ok though, as we will have to travel to the same location to se a pediatric GI anyway. He's still itching, but it seems to be lessening a bit.

I was prescribed with cortisone when I showed my DH to the doctor.. that was because my doc had no idea what the rash was, and didn't bother to do any testing. It did help temporarily but the blisters and the dry skin kept coming back.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,235
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tkayj
    Newest Member
    tkayj
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • TerryinCO
      New Guy Here...

      By TerryinCO · Posted

      Thanks, Knitty Kitty. No, I'm just taking B12...also a vitamin D3.  For gerd - Pantoprozole. Trents, thanks for the links. There's a lot to digest there (pun intended), I'll have to read those a few times to grasp.
    • knitty kitty
      Biopsy results - second opinion?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Because of your anemia, you may not be making sufficient antibodies.  I hope they did a total IgA as well as the tTg IgA, and DGP IgG.  I hope you will share the results with us.  If your body isn't making a large amount of antibodies, then the intestinal damage would be less as well.  The antibodies attacking our own cells is what causes the damage. Anemia, diabetes, and thiamine deficiency can cause false negatives on antibody tests.  Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies besides the ferritin?  Several vitamins and minerals are needed to correct iron deficiency.  Have you been taking any vitamin supplements? Positive on the genes, I see.  Increases the likelihood...  Good job on ramping up on gluten for the test!
    • ellyelly
      Biopsy results - second opinion?

      By ellyelly · Posted

      Thanks so much for the link and for your thoughts! I have been on a gluten - containing diet and ramped up my intake in the couple of weeks leading up to the endoscopy, so I’m hopeful that the biopsy is painting an accurate picture.    I don’t quite understand what else might be causing the lymphocytosis and the inflammatory cells/ clusters of plasma cells and struggled to get clarity from the specialist. Perhaps this is common and nothing to be concerned about?!   In case relevant, my mother sister are both celiac, and I have the genes: HLA-DQA1*05:01 = Heterozygous HLA-DQB1*02:01 = Heterozygous Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Biopsy results - second opinion?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @ellyelly! How much gluten were you eating in the weeks prior to the endoscopy?  Many people with indeterminate results had cut down or eliminated gluten from their diet beforehand.  This can lower the autoimmune response and decrease the symptoms (lower antibody levels,  reduced inflammation and intestinal damage may heal).   If you weren't eating a sufficient amount of gluten per day in a minimum of two weeks prior to the endoscopy, you may want to do another gluten challenge with repeat endoscopy. Here's an article that explains, be sure to read the comments.   
    • ellyelly
      Biopsy results - second opinion?

      By ellyelly · Posted

      Hi all, Such valuable insights shared here - I am so grateful to be able to read along! Thank you all for sharing your wisdom.  I (37yo female) have recently had an endoscopy to screen for celiac given a strong family history and extremely low Ferritin for the past 7 years (not responsive to oral supplements). I am awaiting celiac blood panel results (completed post-endoscopy to provide another piece of the puzzle, I think was just an accidental oversight not doing earlier).  The endoscopy results are as follows: Gastroscopy:  Stomach: Mild gastritis and one 4mm benign appearing inflammatory polyp in the body.  Duodenum: Largely normal but few shallow erosions seen in the duodenal bulb. Microscopy:  1. Sections show specialised and non-specialised gastric mucosa with increased numbers of chronic inflammatory cells within the lamina propria including occasional clusters of plasma cells amounting to mild chronic inflammation. No active inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia or malignancy is seen. Immunostains for Helicobacter organisms are negative. 2. Sections show small bowel mucosa with normal villous architecture. A mild non-specific intra-epithelial lymphocytosis is noted at the villous tips of uncertain clinical significance. The lamina propria contains a normal population of chronic inflammatory cells. No granulomas or parasites are seen. There is no dysplasia or malignancy. Conclusion 1. Gastric: Mild chronic inflammation 2. Duodemum: Mild non-specific intraepithelial lymphocytosis with preserved villous architecture.  The GI specialist, assuming blood tests come back normal, feels it is unlikely that it is celiac given the normal villous architecture. Suggested continuing on as usual and monitoring for symptoms etc, screening with blood test if required in the future.  Worth a second opinion or does this seem accurate? Anything else I should be considering? I feel a little lost as to how to best proceed! Thanks again.  
×
×
  • Create New...