How Can You Tell If A Rash Is The Celiac Rash?

[gfmolly]

Hi there,

My 3 and 6 year old have both been tested for celiac and came up negative. I had inconclusive blood test results, but respond 100% to a Gluten-free Casein-free diet. Here's my question: this morning my 3 year old was complaining that he was itchy on his bottom, I took a look and he has little red bumps all over his bottom. My family mostly eats gluten-free because I cook. However, yesterday we went to Chicago and I let them have a normal waffle on the car trip because it was easy food to eat in the car, they had pizza at Shedd, and then a grilled cheese at Rainforest Cafe. My 6 year old has had a mild bumpy rash on his arm for the last week, but eats a bit of gluten everyday and has excema.

3 yr old also has trouble with C, but that has been alot better this summer. However, as I said before, he eats mostly Gluten-free Casein-free because of my diet.

I have toyed with the idea of having the 3-year old biopsied, because he seems to react and it seems related to gluten. Please help with your thoughts on whether or not this could be the celiac rash. His pediatrician seems to think that we have ruled that out, and now I feel like I am being hypersensitive to the issue. He also has trouble with C, but that has been alot better this summer. However, as I said before, he eats mostly Gluten-free Casein-free because of my diet. Please help me solve this problem with any advice that you may have! Thanks,

Terri

[dadoffiveboys]

Hi there,

My 3 and 6 year old have both been tested for celiac and came up negative. I had inconclusive blood test results, but respond 100% to a Gluten-free Casein-free diet. Here's my question: this morning my 3 year old was complaining that he was itchy on his bottom, I took a look and he has little red bumps all over his bottom. My family mostly eats gluten-free because I cook. However, yesterday we went to Chicago and I let them have a normal waffle on the car trip because it was easy food to eat in the car, they had pizza at Shedd, and then a grilled cheese at Rainforest Cafe. My 6 year old has had a mild bumpy rash on his arm for the last week, but eats a bit of gluten everyday and has excema.

3 yr old also has trouble with C, but that has been alot better this summer. However, as I said before, he eats mostly Gluten-free Casein-free because of my diet.

I have toyed with the idea of having the 3-year old biopsied, because he seems to react and it seems related to gluten. Please help with your thoughts on whether or not this could be the celiac rash. His pediatrician seems to think that we have ruled that out, and now I feel like I am being hypersensitive to the issue. He also has trouble with C, but that has been alot better this summer. However, as I said before, he eats mostly Gluten-free Casein-free because of my diet. Please help me solve this problem with any advice that you may have! Thanks,

Terri

Sounds like my kids. They get C and buttocks rash when they eat gluten (and some other things as well). In your case you know they were exposed.. my recent one was accidental. My 7 year old and 3 year old both ate the Tostitos that were made in the factory with the flour chips . Both now have a rash covering their entire buttocks and are C'd. Neither ever had a positive blood work and my 3 yr old saw a specialist and had failure to thrive and had TTG tests, endoscopy.. all negative. Since I KNOW the rash on my children is from gluten then yes.. it's a celiac rash! BTW - my father has 60% kidney failure from this and had 30 years of reflux misdiagnosed so it is VERY important if you have a reaction to keep them gluten-free if at all possible (and not cheat!) GOOD LUCK!

[ItchyMeredith]

I would take your child to the pediatrician and get him/her a skin biopsy at a dermatologist ASAP. If it is DH a skin biopsy is all you need to confirm celiac and he/she won't need have to have an endoscopy. I have DH and it is hard to say what is and what isn't DH. Most of it looks like blisters but some of it looks like hives too. A skin biopsy can tell you.

Good Luck!

[gfmolly]

I would take your child to the pediatrician and get him/her a skin biopsy at a dermatologist ASAP. If it is DH a skin biopsy is all you need to confirm celiac and he/she won't need have to have an endoscopy. I have DH and it is hard to say what is and what isn't DH. Most of it looks like blisters but some of it looks like hives too. A skin biopsy can tell you.

Good Luck!

Thanks, I had no idea that they could biopsy the skin! It sure does seem suspect considering the circumstances and it is very itchy!

Terri

[ItchyMeredith]

Mine was mostly painless. They numb the area with a shot and then take a tiny piece of skin next to the blister (not on the blister). Then a lab looks for IgA deposits.