Bleach bath...FYI

[3boysmom]

We just got back from Maryland where we saw Dr. L. for our PANDAS son. After discussing the ds10 and his PANDAS we mentioned the 2 brothers (almost 8 and the other 9.) Mentioned that the 9 year old son has eczema and soars in the nose that never heal and also got HSP (illness from strep) at the same time as ds10 got PANDAS. Mentioned that the 8 year old has head tics that have gotten worse when this all began in Dec.'09 with ds10 (and they were all sick with what we later found out was asymotomatic strep). Unfortunately, she confirmed that the sibling rate is very high....we will get Cunningham tests for all 3 boys. I did want to mention that she suggested Bleach baths for the boys. She said to put a half or quarter cup of bleach in the bath water and that it was great to kill staph or strep (on the skin or else where) she said that it helps to get in their sinus cavities when breathing in during the bath. I Googled it and the research I read did absolutely confirm what she said. I am off to buy stock in Bleach. (Please Google the directions, so as to not harm your child in anyway!)

Edited September 25, 2010 by 3boysmom

[Chemar]

sorry but I do just have to mention here that I think this is not something to be done without great caution, especially if the child has tics

 

Chlorine is known to trigger neurological stuff for many kids, especially those who have TS.

 

I realize there are differences in how treatment should be approached in different conditions, but there is just too much anecdotal evidence on chlorine triggering especially tics not for me to mention this. I am sure Dr L is spot on in terms of her suggestion that it helps help re the staph and strep. I am not questioning that.

 

But just mentioning that where it may get rid of the germs, it also has the potential to trigger some symptoms like tics

 

so just be careful ....and be googled up in terms of the other potentially hazardous effects of the chlorine as well!

[pixiesmommy]

I'm sorry, but I just have to disagree with this. There are other things that kill germs besides bleach, and there is NO WAY I would soak a kid in bleach. Inhaling those fumes is going to cause all kinds of respiratory distress, if not burns!!! Bleach is a very, very toxic petroleum product.

[tired mom]

This was posted about sometime earlier this year. I am sorry to say it was frowned upon then too. I am not questioning the doctor, just saying it sounds a little harsh.

[mama2alex]

Here's the thread on bleach baths from earlier this year: http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7031&hl=bleach&st=0

[matis_mom]

Here's the thread on bleach baths from earlier this year: http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7031&hl=bleach&st=0

I had posted about it originally. I did try it for a while and I cannot say that it hurt or helped our situation. I think disinfecting the house regularly is a good idea, and you also have to make sure the kids' skin is in good shape. But if your kids are having recurrent strep, I would look into getting everyone checked for Lyme Disease, as it seems to be our case.

I posted an interesting article about this recently.

If you google "lyme disease strep", you'll see what I mean. I did not find any specific research but many posts from people talking about recurrent strep, strep that would not clear (that is my case at the moment), etc.

Please, please, please, do not discard this possibility if your family keeps getting strep. My kids kept getting it (mostly WITHOUT symptoms) and now we are at the point where even the pediatrician, after a year of me going in over and over and the kids always having something (strep, ear infections, impetigo), has finally agreed to prescribe antibiotics for everyone for 30 days. We had tried before doing everyone for 10 days, but it came back. Even though our pediatrician does not know much about Lyme, she agreed with my own dr's theory that it's probably Lyme.

Even though it's not anything to be happy about, I am hoping with the right treatment we will be able to end this crazy cycle!

[justinekno]

I don't even use it for my laundry so I can't imagine having my kids (or myself for that matter) sit in it and absorb it through their skin and respiratory. I used to gag when I would use bleach cleaners in my bathroom and would have to open windows and turn a fan on. I'm sure the intentions are in the right place but I would have to pass on this one.

[lyme_mom]

I don't even use it for my laundry so I can't imagine having my kids (or myself for that matter) sit in it and absorb it through their skin and respiratory. I used to gag when I would use bleach cleaners in my bathroom and would have to open windows and turn a fan on. I'm sure the intentions are in the right place but I would have to pass on this one.

I totally agree with Justine. I don't even use bleach or other chemicals to do laundry or to clean with.These chemicals like bleach can disrupt hormonal balance and they are estrogenic not to mention toxic. This is why I do not use them in my home at all. These chemicals in our homes and in our food are the reason kids are developing so early these days.

I have heard that hydrogen peroxide with epsom salts is good for a bath. I would think that would do the same thing without the toxic side effects. It is supposed to be detoxifying. I cannot imagine soaking a child in a tub with bleach. The bleach could really irritate the genital area too and the fumes would be bad to breathe. I poured hydrogen peroxide in my sump pump last week b/c I smelled something musty. I called a mold expert and she told me to use hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar to clean the sump pump. It will kill any mold in there. It worked....the smell went away.

[Stephanie2]

Please consider using Tea Tree Oil instead. I did it just this morning b/c ds2's eczema is flaring and is looking a little infected at the moment. They say just a few drops per bath, but I use at least 10-15 drops. Also, you could use grapefruit seed extract: check out this link and scroll down to impetigo. I am currently spraying my son 4 times a day with the dilution that they recommend.

 

http://www.nutriteam.com/common.html

 

Tea Tree Oil (and other herbal remedies for impetigo):

 

http://www.herbs2000.com/disorders/impetigo.htm

Edited September 25, 2010 by Stephanie2

[pixiesmommy]

White vinegar (check to make sure it's not made from petroleum) is a much better alternative for a lot of reasons. TIME magazine ran an article a few years ago on chlorine bleach vs. white vinegar for cleaning and the vinegar was much more anti-bacterial!

[3boysmom]

I guess it is good that I did post this after all. First I did not say to bathe in bleach....1/4 cup in a garden tub of water. Second, if we were told about this from one of the BIG PANDAS doctors, then I'm sure that it was mentioned to many others. Finally, it does sound better than doing nothing about the strep in the non-PANDAS brothers and just waiting for them to turn into full blown PANDAS. This is the sugestion given to me when I asked "how can we keep the others from getting PANDAS if the test for strep always comes back negative? (They obviously had strep...one got HSP.) She said "strep hides in all kinds of places" and suggested the bleach bath. Our pediatrician is not going to give antibiotics to the brothers if the strep tests show negative. How can I keep them from getting strep in other places? At this point I would rather the child with the mild tic, have an increase of ticing than go into the full blown ###### his brother has had to live.

[3boysmom]

White vinegar (check to make sure it's not made from petroleum) is a much better alternative for a lot of reasons. TIME magazine ran an article a few years ago on chlorine bleach vs. white vinegar for cleaning and the vinegar was much more anti-bacterial!

 

 

 

Thank you, I will be looking into this! Doing nothing and waiting for what seems to be the inevitable...is not an option!

[3boysmom]

Here's the thread on bleach baths from earlier this year: http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7031&hl=bleach&st=0

I had posted about it originally. I did try it for a while and I cannot say that it hurt or helped our situation. I think disinfecting the house regularly is a good idea, and you also have to make sure the kids' skin is in good shape. But if your kids are having recurrent strep, I would look into getting everyone checked for Lyme Disease, as it seems to be our case.

I posted an interesting article about this recently.

If you google "lyme disease strep", you'll see what I mean. I did not find any specific research but many posts from people talking about recurrent strep, strep that would not clear (that is my case at the moment), etc.

Please, please, please, do not discard this possibility if your family keeps getting strep. My kids kept getting it (mostly WITHOUT symptoms) and now we are at the point where even the pediatrician, after a year of me going in over and over and the kids always having something (strep, ear infections, impetigo), has finally agreed to prescribe antibiotics for everyone for 30 days. We had tried before doing everyone for 10 days, but it came back. Even though our pediatrician does not know much about Lyme, she agreed with my own dr's theory that it's probably Lyme.

Even though it's not anything to be happy about, I am hoping with the right treatment we will be able to end this crazy cycle!

 

 

Crazy cycle is right! That is why trying a mild bleach bath sounds like no big deal when you are trying to get ahead of strep. especially strep you can not find. I will look into the Lyme. Good luck clearing the strep from your family! Thanks

[Chemar]

I guess it is good that I did post this after all. First I did not say to bathe in bleach....1/4 cup in a garden tub of water. Second, if we were told about this from one of the BIG PANDAS doctors, then I'm sure that it was mentioned to many others. Finally, it does sound better than doing nothing about the strep in the non-PANDAS brothers and just waiting for them to turn into full blown PANDAS. This is the sugestion given to me when I asked "how can we keep the others from getting PANDAS if the test for strep always comes back negative? (They obviously had strep...one got HSP.) She said "strep hides in all kinds of places" and suggested the bleach bath. Our pediatrician is not going to give antibiotics to the brothers if the strep tests show negative. How can I keep them from getting strep in other places? At this point I would rather the child with the mild tic, have an increase of ticing than go into the full blown ###### his brother has had to live.

 

even a 1/4 cup of bleach in a tub would be enough to trigger some major neuro reactions in a susceptible person. I cannot do laundry with it or use it in household cleaners and my son quit (his choice) chlorine pools years ago. We even have special filters on faucets

 

if you could witness how my son reacts to chlorine, even a TINY amount, you would possibly understand why this is a caution that needs to be voiced. And a search on the TS forum would show you that there are many other kids with similar sensitivity to it.

For some kids, the reaction can be very dramatic and not just an increase in mild tics.

 

just because a doctor is an expert on one thing, does not mean they necessarily have all the info on other things...that is understandable. And as I stated in my first post, no one is doubting that this would help to control strep and staph ...just that the trade off may be intense too!

 

I would still urge parents to be very careful about using any bleach in bath water without first being sure it isn't going to trigger skin reactions (my son gets hives from it) and possibloe neurological reactions, including increased tics.

The white vinegar sounds a good alternative

[matis_mom]

I guess it is good that I did post this after all. First I did not say to bathe in bleach....1/4 cup in a garden tub of water. Second, if we were told about this from one of the BIG PANDAS doctors, then I'm sure that it was mentioned to many others. Finally, it does sound better than doing nothing about the strep in the non-PANDAS brothers and just waiting for them to turn into full blown PANDAS. This is the sugestion given to me when I asked "how can we keep the others from getting PANDAS if the test for strep always comes back negative? (They obviously had strep...one got HSP.) She said "strep hides in all kinds of places" and suggested the bleach bath. Our pediatrician is not going to give antibiotics to the brothers if the strep tests show negative. How can I keep them from getting strep in other places? At this point I would rather the child with the mild tic, have an increase of ticing than go into the full blown ###### his brother has had to live.

 

even a 1/4 cup of bleach in a tub would be enough to trigger some major neuro reactions in a susceptible person. I cannot do laundry with it or use it in household cleaners and my son quit (his choice) chlorine pools years ago. We even have special filters on faucets

 

if you could witness how my son reacts to chlorine, even a TINY amount, you would possibly understand why this is a caution that needs to be voiced. And a search on the TS forum would show you that there are many other kids with similar sensitivity to it.

For some kids, the reaction can be very dramatic and not just an increase in mild tics.

 

just because a doctor is an expert on one thing, does not mean they necessarily have all the info on other things...that is understandable. And as I stated in my first post, no one is doubting that this would help to control strep and staph ...just that the trade off may be intense too!

 

I would still urge parents to be very careful about using any bleach in bath water without first being sure it isn't going to trigger skin reactions (my son gets hives from it) and possibloe neurological reactions, including increased tics.

The white vinegar sounds a good alternative

Hmmm... vinegar... I remember my mom rinsing our hair out with vinegar to make it shinier I've been meaning to switch to vinegar for housecleaning, thanks for reminding me! It seems like a much safer alternative, even if we all end up smelling like salad!

Also, someone had posted about using a hydrogen peroxide solution with a netty pot for sinuses?