When Should Symptoms Improve?

[CantEvenEatRice]

My 19 month old son just tested positive for gluten and milk intolerance. He has been off both for almost a week now. He never really had any strong symptoms I would say, but he did have occasional softer bm's, occasional diaper rash and lots of eczema that would come and go. His poop seems normal now, but his eczema is really flaring again. It doesn't seem to itch or bother him, but it doesn't seem right. He also still seems tired and irritable. Are withdrawal symptoms common or should I consider other allergies?

[gf4life]

It can takes months for healing. It may take a while for him to feel more energetic and for his rash to clear (if the rash is caused from gluten).

I wouldn't jump the gun on additional allergies. It is probably hard for him to not be allowed to eat his favorite foods and you both need time to get used to feeding him a gluten and dairy free diet. Later on if he still has some symptoms, then you can start looking at other foods.

[Esther Sparhawk]

My 19 month old son just tested positive for gluten and milk intolerance. He has been off both for almost a week now. He never really had any strong symptoms I would say, but he did have occasional softer bm's, occasional diaper rash and lots of eczema that would come and go. His poop seems normal now, but his eczema is really flaring again. It doesn't seem to itch or bother him, but it doesn't seem right. He also still seems tired and irritable. Are withdrawal symptoms common or should I consider other allergies?

My understanding about eczema is that it can flare up due to stress. One thing to remember about little ones is that they can sense when parents are stressed out too. Take time out for yourself once in a while. Take a warm bath, go on a date with your spouse/significant other, take a walk, or do a hobby to help you relax. It will be a benefit to both your son and you.

[Mamato2boys]

My understanding about eczema is that it can flare up due to stress. One thing to remember about little ones is that they can sense when parents are stressed out too. Take time out for yourself once in a while. Take a warm bath, go on a date with your spouse/significant other, take a walk, or do a hobby to help you relax. It will be a benefit to both your son and you.

My son has eczema too. I've heard of a theory that eczema could possibly be linked to vitamin D deficiency - I've noticed that my son's improves in the summer when he gets sun exposure on the area (his calf). Since you're avoiding milk, maybe that's why his eczema is flaring up because he's not getting as much vitamin D as he normally does.

[CantEvenEatRice]

That is interesting! I actually have a Vit. D deficiency myself. I will have to look into that. Thanks!

[wonkabar]

My son also has eczema that has improved dramatically since he was a baby; I have seen a correlation to his eczema clearing up and removing gluten although it took awhile. That's the only major difference in his diet. He has had some flare ups this year but has been relatively "clear" lately; I haven't had to use his Rx in awhile.

Eczema is very common in kids with allergies; my son has asthma, seasonal allergies and is allergic to peanuts, tomatos and egg whites. The summer is also tough on him b/c he gets sweaty and the whole itch-scratch cycle begins. Winter can be difficult, too, as skin gets dry. It's definitely a balancing act. What *really* helps is just patting him dry after a bath and using a really good moisturizer all over his body. This locks-in the moisture from the bath.

The "tired and irritable" issue could be related to gluten. My son is a beast when he's been glutened (it lasts about a week) and seems to be exhausted. He was accidentally glutened last week and was exhausted and a horror for a week after. Are you sure he's not getting any hidden sources of gluten like it personal care products?? It gets easier as time goes on.