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My Daughter Has A Rash At Base Of Spine

mimommy

By mimommy
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

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mimommy Contributor
mimommy
Posted

Hi everyone. I think we have yet another new symptom going on. My 9 year old daughter started complaining of an itchy rash yesterday at the triangular area of the base of the spine, above the 'crack' of the cheeks. Looks like a big patch of hives--red, raised, warm.

She's been diagnosed celiac for 5 months, gluten free since August '08. She's never had a rash before.

Could this be DH? Geez, I sure hope not!!!!

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flourgirl Apprentice
flourgirl
Posted

Hi Mini-Mom! I'm hoping it's not DH, too. Does it burn and itch terribly without relief? Has she had a glutening, or eaten iodized anything? Ibuprofen used to set mine off, too. If you don't want the expense of biopsy, just wait it out and be very careful of what she eats. Cut out iodized salt (there are kosher salts and sea salts to replace it), and avoid anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen.

Once you have the skin reaction like DH, it takes time for it to get out of your skin system. Eventually it won't be a problem anymore.

In spite of the descriptions available, not all of us have it that way. Mine never "mirrored", nor did it come back in the same places. I literally had it everywhere before I got it out of my system. At first I thought it was poison ivy....except it didn't act quite like it. When it spread, and spread, even to the bottoms of my feet, I knew it was something else. My gastro knew what it was immediately.....and tipped her off as to what to look for when I had my endo. I wonder if I would have gotten my diagnosis (finally) if not for that.

My neice just developed a rash, and she's been gluten free for at least a year now. We are sure it is DH and that she's been eating something, somewhere.

Good luck with the rash, whatever it is. Hope it doesn't get any worse.

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

I never had DH, but I have amazingly reactive skin. I get a dry scaly itchy patch anywhere ive had some small abrasive injury, like, my jeans rubbing against my skin. Is it possible she just had a simple itch and scratching it has made it worse?

mimommy Contributor
mimommy
Posted
  • Author

Thanks guys.

She just told me about it last night. I thought it could possibly be heat rash, but it was quite cold here last night and it's still just as dark red as it was. It does look like poison ivy, but her spine base is the only spot it appears to be. It is about 3 X 5 inches, oblong. She says it itches, but hasn't complained of burning. I googled this morning and, of course the third link down led me here!

https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?showtopic=22903

There is a photo there that is exactly what hers looks like.

She hasn't had any anti-inflammatory drugs at all. Probably did get iodized salt, as I haven't cooked much home-made this week.

She has her next check-up with the GI in June, but if it is still there Monday I am calling him.

Jess, I get that too. If my metal buttons rub or touch my skin I get a raised red mark.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

R--Whatever it is, I hope you get it figured out soon. :)

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    • Scott Adams
      Test interpretations

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Based on those results alone, it’s not possible to say you have celiac disease. The test that is usually most specific for celiac, tTG-IgA, is negative in your results, and the endomysial antibody (EMA) is also negative, which generally argues against active celiac disease. However, your deamidated gliadin IgA is elevated, and your total IgA level is also high, which can sometimes affect how the other antibody tests behave. Another important factor is that you were reducing gluten before the test, which can lower antibody levels and make the results less reliable. Because of that, many doctors recommend a gluten challenge (eating gluten regularly for several weeks) before repeating blood tests or considering an endoscopy if symptoms and labs raise concern. It would be best to review these results with a gastroenterologist, who can interpret them in context and decide whether further testing is needed.
    • trents
      Test interpretations

      By trents · Posted

      Since you compromised the validity of the antibody testing by experimenting with gluten withdrawal ahead of the testing, you are faced with two options: 1. Reintroduce significant amounts of gluten into your diet for a period of weeks, i.e., undertake a "gluten challenge". The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of at least 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat-based bread) for at least two weeks leading up to the day of testing. Note: I would certainly give it more than two weeks to be sure. 2. Be willing to live with the ambiguity of not knowing whether gluten causes you problems because you have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). There is no test for NCGS. Celiac disease must first be ruled out and we have tests for it. Celiac disease has an autoimmune base. NCGS does not. GI symptoms overlap. In the early stages of celiac disease, other body systems may not be showing stress or damage so, symptomatically, it would be difficult to distinguish between celiac disease and NCGS. Both conditions require elimination of gluten from the diet for symptom relief. Some experts feel that NCGS can be a precursor to celiac disease.
    • suek54
      Need advice for some relief!

      By suek54 · Posted

      Hi Kayla Huge sympathies. I was diagnosed in December, after 8 months of the most awful rash, literally top to toe. Mine is a work in progress. Im on just 50mg dapsone at the moment but probably need an increased dose to properly put the lid on it. As you have been now glutened, I wondered whether it might be worth asking for a skin biopsy to finally get a proper diagnosis? Sue  
    • MicG
      Test interpretations

      By MicG · Posted

      I had been eating reduced gluten until about 3 days before the test. I did realize that wasn’t ideal, but it was experimental to see if gluten was actually bothering me. One slip up with soy sauce and it was quite clear to me that it was, lol. 
    • trents
      Test interpretations

      By trents · Posted

      Possibly. Your total IGA (Immunoglobulin A, Qn, Serum) is actually high so you are not IGA deficient. In the absence of IGA deficiency, the most reliable celiac antibody test would be the t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA for which your score is within normal range. There are other things besides celiac disease that might cause an elevated DGP-IGA (Deamidated Gliadin Abs, lgA) for which you do have a positive score. It might also be of concern that your total IGA is elevated as that can indicate some other health problems, some of which are serious.  Had you been practicing a gluten free or a reduced gluten free diet prior to the blood draw? Talk to your physician about these things. I would also seek an endoscopy/biopsy of the small bowel to check for damage to the villous lining, which is the gold standard diagnostic test for celiac disease.
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