Category: Symptoms of DH

1. What are the symptoms of dermatitis herpetiformis?
2. Do all DH patients have coeliac disease?
3. Where does the name, dermatitis herpetiformis come from?

1. What are the symptoms of dermatitis herpetiformis?
   
   The typical features are small grouped itchy blisters, often on red plaques, situated on the back of the elbows and forearms, buttocks and front of the knees and is usually symmetrical, ie. on both elbows, knees, etc. Although these are the common sites the rash may in addition, occur anywhere on the body including face, scalp and trunk. The eruption is unbelievably itchy and may keep sufferers awake at night.
   
   DH patients also have coeliac disease, a life-long inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. This is caused by gluten, a protein in wheat, and similar proteins in rye, barley and oats.
   
   (Source - Medical Articles)
   
   
   
   
2. Do all DH patients have coeliac disease?
   
   The first suggestion that patients with DH also have an enteropathy identical to coeliac disease (CD) was made in 1967. This was confirmed by showing the enteropathy cleared with gluten withdrawal from the diet and recurred when gluten was reintroduced. It was subsequently shown that all patients with DH have evidence of a gluten enteropathy. However, in the majority of patients the enteropathy is mild and does not give rise to symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss and diarrhoea. Thus, all patients with DH have associated CD although it could be described as latent CD in the majority.
   
   (Source - Medical Article)
   
   
   
   
3. Where does the name, dermatitis herpetiformis come from?
   
   The name is descriptive, dermatitis being inflammation of the skin and herpetiformis meaning group. DH has nothing to do with herpes. It was originally known as Duhring's Disease after an American dermatologist, Louis Duhring, who first described DH as a distinct clinical entity in 1884.
   
   (Source - Medical Article)