Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris & Celiac?

[Frische Haus]

So, does anyone know of a link between the 2?

Since he was 2ish my son now 4ish has had what the docs have termed as chronic mild diarrhea. I eliminated dairy first, then gluten--and we seemed to thereby eliminate the cramping. When he turned 4 I was in for a f/u with his pedi gastro and she sd we could continue with the diet but also wrote down on his records -encropesis, which I looked up later noted that it was soiling for no medical reason. While in the office, she had explained that sometimes one's parenting styles were too permissive.

End of Aug, I started a p/t job--and so with a little more income and less time at home--we began eating out more. He snuck some cheese early Sept and didn't have diarrhea afterwards--so I began gradually reintroducing dairy into his diet.

Second week of Sep, diagnosis torticollis--sudden onset acute neck pain. He was crawling around on the floor in distress & his ped gave him Valium--as a muscle relaxant. After about a week it resolved.

Third week of Sep to the day: onset of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris--which is extremely rare in children. Which was treated initially as Strep A rash by the Ped (antibiotics) with steroid topical cream for the hands and feet. After 10 days no improvement. Sent to derm. Treated with different more potent antibiotic and more potent topical steroid cream. No improvement. Monday-biopsy. And the results came in yesterday.

I updated the ped gastro nurse (for the 3rd time since all this started this fall--because I was concerned that it had to do with the reintroduction of the diary--despite the ped and the derm saying that it did not look food allergy related). Now with the biopsy results, they are sending us this morning for more complete bloodwork --to look at thyroid and gluten & possible low auto-immune type diseases.

So has anyone on the board had this? Or have their children had it? The treatment is pretty harsh--the kid has been crying every time I administer the steroid cream and we have to do that now with another cream that is acid based. He just lays there and weeps when I put this on him. He looks like hell.

I wish I had some answers.

[teacherpat]

That sounds absolutely awful! I hope they can give you some answers soon.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521382_3

[Frische Haus]

Thanks for the quote from that article. It was very helpful. Can anyone register at that site to see the whole article or do you have to be medical health professional (and is it free?).

It looks consistent with some of the labwork that she ordered for us. Hopefully we will know something next week.

[teacherpat]