dh

[dobido]

this might seem like a stupid question but what is dh. Also when i was told i had cd i was advised to get any sibblings to get tested my neice is showing alot of the symtoms would it possible affect her as i was told off spring and brothers or sisters but can it come further down the line like neices nethews etc

[tassie]

dh in computer lingo often means "dear husband" or D--- head" depending how you are feeling on the day But it might mean something else depending on the context ...was it used as a medical term?

I would think it would be possible that nieces and nephews might have it too as they are offspring of your siblings.

[tassie in reply to tassie]

Ha ha ... looking further down the posts I see it is used in a medical sense ... in which case I am of no help

Hopefully someone else knows what it means in that context

[justjake]

Dermatitis herpetiformis.

An auto immune disease that manifests itself as an incredibly itchy water blister type rash usually on the body around knees/elbows,buttocks side of head etc.

I suffer from it and it is controlled via a g/f diet and the drug Dapsone.

Dapsone is [apparently] a dangerous drug and when first prescribed [150mg/day] I had to have weekly blood tests but now,5 years down the line I only have to take 50 mg every other day and blood tests every 6 months.

Apparently DH is relatively rare and I was asked to present with my symptoms at hospital in front of 40 GP's [4 groups of 10] and only one successfully diagnosed it!

Hope this helps.

[Lexy in reply to justjake]

Interesting to read that you are on Dapsone every other day? I was put on it (daily) when I was first diagnosed with DH, but they never scheduled any bloodtests, and after about 4 weeks of using it I started to feel really odd (like I was floating/in an alternate reality) so I came off it.Once I started to research the medication I went back to my gp and queried them as to why I had not had any blood tests. The gp knew nothing about the drug and looked it up in front of me! The contraindications were too worrying for me so I have never gone back on it. I find my DH is largely controlled by being strict with my diet - although I do get flareups now and again, they are much smaller in spread, and less itchy. I've had to go lactose free, caffeine free, yeastextract free, and be really careful with the amount of sugar/dextrine/sweeteners I ingest. Is your DH totally under control or do you still get flareups?

[justjake in reply to Lexy]

It's pretty much under control however every 4 or 5 days I may get an intensely itchy head [and sometimes in the morning a picked blister but when the itch starts I take Hydroxyzine hydrochloride [50mg] and put Betnovate scalp solution in my hair....so far so good

[justjake in reply to Lexy]

You really should have blood tests with Dapsone as it works by killing red blood cells to allow the white cells to fight the DH and of course too few red blood cells will kill you.

[Lexy in reply to justjake]

Aye, I was shocked when I found out blood tests were never ordered and when I queried the gp it was denied me. So I thought the safest option was to come off Dapsone altogether. Glad you are finding it helpful, but personally I'm not sure I'd want to be on it for so long...anyway, good to hear you are feeling better!

[Towels in reply to justjake]

Hi Justjake. As I suffer with DH. I would like to say that my own GP was treating me with steroid cream for 6 yrs before a new GP came to work at the doctors surgery I attend. The new doctor in question took one look at the condition on my buttock and said do you suffer from CD, I said yes then she said I know what the rash is its DH. The doctor said I had to have a biopsy at the hospital to clarify that I had DH. I was so pleased that I finally new what the condition was.

[justjake in reply to Towels]

yep,I was being treated for allsorts including lice! until I demanded a referral and I saw a dermatologist who took a biopsy the same day which diagnosed DH and I would advise anyone with such a rash that isn't clearing in spite of GP diagnosis to demand a referral.

[Regalbirdy]

Hi dobido

I personally think it can affect second-generation family members etc; because I suspect my grandfather was an undiagnosed coeliac. I remember that he had many of the symptoms; but he died around 10 years before my diagnosis. In my family it seems to have skipped a generation - after diagnosis I insisted that all my first-degree relatives get tested for CD as well; and neither parent tested positive.

I'm also a little concerned about my young God-daughter (who's Great-aunt is a coeliac) because of some her symptoms could be connected to having a Gluten sensitivity.

[Hidden]

Hi there,

Firstly DH is a rash caused by an antibody made in the intestines as a reaction to gluten, this antibody is IgA and is tested for in the blood test for CD. In a few coeliac the IgA collects just under the skin and causes a secondary immune system reaction which results in an itchy rash. A simple skin biopsy reveals all.

As for you niece having CD, there is a genetic predisposition to CD in blood relatives so there could be a link but your niece could have CD from her blood relatives rather than yours, so yes of course your niece could have CD.

So if there are any signs then get her tested.

[Towels]

Hi Dobido. DH is a condition that effects the skin,caused be gluten intolerance. I can only say that when I have accidentally eaten gluten I get DH which is a very painful condition. DH is short for Dermatitis Herpetiformis,blisters that break out on certain parts of the body. With me DH effects my buttocks. One also has to have a biopsy at the hospital to get this condition confirmed by a dermatologist. Can I say that not every body who has CD gets DH. I have a sister who has CD but does not suffer with DH. Also my other 4 siblings do not suffer with CD.

I hope this information has helped you .

[Towels]

Hi Jerry just wanted to say, your spot on with you comment on DH. I couldn't have explained this condition any better, thank you .