Update on Misunderstandings & Impetigo :(

[gemcitygirl]

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you to everyone who posted in my thread before/PMed me. I've been sick and overwhelmed lately- so friends who took the time, I thank you!

 

Here is the thread from before- http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10927&st=0&p=92321&hl=misunderstandings&fromsearch=1entry92321

 

So.... after the two strep infections- my son's pediatrician referred ds to a ID specialist. The pediatrician, however, did not send any medical records or the results from the positive rapid strep tests & he ordered the wrong tests. Anyway, I told the ID Dr. about the behavior episodes, I had a copy of all his illnesses with me- ear infections, pneumonia and the two strep infections. I did not mention PANDAS, I wanted to see what he could come up with. And he thought PANDAS- it's the only explanation for this reappearing and disappearing behavior with illness.

 

Our plan now is two-fold. I have his contact info, so I will call/page him if ds gets sick plus or/displays OCD/ADHD/frequent urination or others PANDAS symptoms. He'll get him in that day and treat him with antibiotics and do a rapid strep test or culture and check his ASO titers and then again in a few weeks just so we can solidify the diagnoses. I realize that ASO doesn't always show the extent of the problem. However, this doctor made the call (although I already knew), so he'll work with us.

 

Here's the good and bad news. Owen is much, much better. He is his normal easy going self. He just finished antibiotics a few days ago. The bad news? I (mom) have impetigo. I have no clue how this happened. First of all I had a sinus infection, laryngitis and a cough. So I was put on Azithromycin about a week ago, but I've had this itchy sore nose thing for months! And it hasn't gone away. Ugh. So I had some dry skin going on from colder weather and using retinal- and I got what I thought were pimples... no I've had this a few times since September- it comes and goes. But this time it's bad, I have lymph nodes on my neck.... SO. I have some altabax prescription ointment for staph and strep- this was from some nursing incident when ds was a baby. I'm think though maybe I should go to the urgent care tonight. BOOO!!! I look awful and am seeing my entire family tomorrow. I'm also afraid that ds will get Strep AGAIN. This just STINKS.

Edited November 24, 2010 by gemcitygirl

[trademein]

That does stink. I didn't know that you can get a strep infection on the skin. This is very interesting my younger daughter has a pimple like rash in her diaper area since she was a few months old. It starts as one then spreade out of control. She goes on ABX. and in a few days its better. but then comes back in a few months. Now I wonder if its strep related? How would they test for that? The rash did test + for staph once. I hope you feel better soon.

Kari

[Mary M]

Strep can be found in many places (not just the throat) and the skin is just one area that can harbor strep.

 

For what it's worth, my daughter's only documented positive strep test in her life was from a perianal culture due to an awful diaper rash. Your Dr can test for it...

Mary

from Michigan

[gemcitygirl]

  On 11/25/2010 at 12:05 AM, trademein said:

That does stink. I didn't know that you can get a strep infection on the skin. This is very interesting my younger daughter has a pimple like rash in her diaper area since she was a few months old. It starts as one then spreade out of control. She goes on ABX. and in a few days its better. but then comes back in a few months. Now I wonder if its strep related? How would they test for that? The rash did test + for staph once. I hope you feel better soon.

Kari

Kari- impetigo looks crusty, typically honey colored. It can also look like pimples, and it's most common in youngsters in the diaper area. I think most of the time they don't even test it unless they think it's MRSA. Normally they just look at it and then prescribe oral and/or topical anitbiotics. What happened here was I finished a zpack early this week for sinuses and then yesterday it came back with a vengence. I ended up paging my family doctor and he called in another zpack w/ a refill and mupirocin to apply inside my nose. I'm seeing him tomorrow so he can see it first hand,but hopefully the zpack will start working. I was miserable last night. I'm thinking it must be strep related- because of my son's recent positive rapid strep tests.

 

Also if you can catch it early on triple antibiotic ointment and a bandage should do the trick. If not get into the doc. Often people with recurring impetigo carry staph or strep in thier nostrils and need to treat that area as well.