Back from vacation - sick sibling

[GraceUnderPressure]

Hi all! We are back from our vacation that began with a visit to Dr. Rao in Plano.

 

Dr. R pointed out to me that the dr. we saw back in 2008 actually tested ds18 for Antistreptolysin O Ab (5.4 IU/mL) and Anti-DNase B Strep antibodies (<1:60) and the results appeared solidly negative even as my ds was getting worse. So Dr. R does not think ds18's problem originates as a PANDAS case - though he did go ahead & test to see if ds18 has developed it in the 2 yrs since then. (We did Dr. Cunningham's tests among several other things - hopefully that will reveal if ds18 is a PITAND case)

 

Meanwhile, last Tuesday night when we were still on our vacation, my ds7 complained of a sore throat - the next morning he woke up with that bronchitic-type cough similar to what he had back in June that seemed to affect ds18 and make his tics worse. But then pretty much all illnesses seem to make ds 18's tics worse.

 

Anyway, ds7 is still coughing a bit & has a stuffy nose - which ds4 has just started (the runny nose not the cough) - should I try to get my 7yo tested for anything? (He is getting anxious thoughts again just when that had seemed to be subsiding from the last bout) If so, which tests should I ask for (since this is just a basic family practice doctor who frankly isn't even that good) - strep & mycoplasma?

 

Or should I just give my kids whatever health support I can with things like olive leaf extract & elderberry and wait till next month's followup with Dr. R to see what, if anything, the labs reveal?

[airial95]

I'm probably not the best one to answer this - because I have our pediatrician on speed dial (although - that's probably not uncommon around here ) I've always erred on the side of caution - especially since we have a supportive pediatrician who has been actively treating our son's PANDAS (we now have the help of Dr. Murphy as well though). At the first sign of any type of sore throat especially in any of my kids (or us parents) we whisk them away for a culture. I've gone so far as to take my PANDAS son to the After Hours Pediatrician on a Friday night cause he complained of a sore throat. (Turned out to be viral tonsilitis - but like most others, he still reacts - albeit not as bad as with strep).

 

If you're concerned - I'd get tested.