Strange New World

[2babies]

Hi! I am looking for some advice. My son (13 months old) was recently dx with ecxema (he has a small patch on each shoulder). I am here because (long story, short...) my neice had RSV and while doing research on RSV, I learned about a link between RSV and asthma... and then asthma and ecxema (which my friends daughter had both... and then was dx celiac) and now seems better on all accounts due to becoming gluten free. So now that my son has ecxema, I can not help but return to the dots I had connected earlier. Thinking back now I can match up the time when he started developing the first patch was around 12 months (when he was introduced to oat, wheat and milk products- he had only had little snatches of oat/wheat products before) He hasn't had much dairy (he still nurses 1-2 times a day during this weaning phase so I didn't worry about giving him a lot of milk- he will get yogurt a couple times a week at best). He has been eating wheat products serveral times a day though (puffs, cheerios, biscuts, etc.)- now I am concerned about where to start. I know how bad the symptoms and damage to the digestive track can be, so I would like to find out what I need to in order to spare my son that. Is ecxema just ecxema- when is it something else? Should I have him tested? What tests do I request? Any recommendations on how to approach the pediatrician? (I know he is going to think I'm a nut if I walk in and say "My son has ecxema- please test him for a gluten allergy.") Do they test babies for this at all? How gluten free do I need to go? (Don't eat gluten or Don't eat gluten AND don't touch play doh) Do I test both gluten and casien? Just looking for advice on where to start, and how to go about this from people who have been there- thanks for reading this and to those of you who take the time to share your wisdom.

[RiceGuy]

Well, although you could ask for some tests, they are terribly inaccurate in such small children. So no matter what the results might be, you'd be best to try the gluten-free and dairy-free diet anyway. Dairy may or may not be a problem , but you won't know unless you eliminate it for awhile, then reintroduce after symptoms have been eliminated.

As for "just eczema", there's no such thing. It is always caused by something.

Welcome to the board!

[2babies]

Well, although you could ask for some tests, they are terribly inaccurate in such small children. So no matter what the results might be, you'd be best to try the gluten-free and dairy-free diet anyway. Dairy may or may not be a problem , but you won't know unless you eliminate it for awhile, then reintroduce after symptoms have been eliminated.

As for "just eczema", there's no such thing. It is always caused by something.

Welcome to the board!

Thank you so much for your time and I appreciate your advice- and will do it. I also appreciate your comment on eczema- so many treat it lightly, I didn't want to be the "crazy" mom reading into things, but it doesn't seem right that skin would do that with no real cause. My dermatologist said to just rub cream on it to make it go away, but that is only treating a symptom of something else.- Once again, thanks.