strep from an infectious disease point of view

[danddd]

It seems so many docs we have seen, specialists ect. say that low dose pen. and amox. are good enough for preventing strep. We have not seen an infectious disease doc, and i am wondering what one would say about this. If this were the case, wouldnt all our kids stick with those abx, and not the heavier augmentin (dd is on) or zith? I personally dont want to risk changing, but just curious if anyone has some facts on this.

thanks

[trademein]

my DD9 has been a PCN 250 mg twice a day since June to prevent strep. That order came from the Infectious doctor. She hasn't had strep or any other illness since the start. It took awhile to work on the PANDAS part but she is doing very well now. We saw a major change in October. She is also on Zoloft and Tanex.

[rockytop]

We actually just saw an ID doctor yesterday with my son who is a carrier (not a PANDAS sufferer)He told me that strep titers can be raised for MANY months after a strep infection and that the rises and dips in numbers are not necessarily consistent with "amount" on infection. He felt like my son should not be treated unless his throat is positive- so he suggested we have him checked at some point down the road- not yet- he is just finishing augmentin. He felt that randomly taking my kids (we have 8) in for strep tests (cultures and titers) was not practical (I agree) but he also felt like titers were not really helpful. He was not a PANDAS "nay-sayer" at least not openly- but I am not sure he really felt if it was real. So I will re-consult with our PANDAS doctor and see how they feel about it.

[thereishope]

Well, the head of Infectious Disease at our local Children's Hopsital once told one of my son's ex-doctors that amoxicillin kills strep...period

Edited December 9, 2010 by Vickie

[momcap]

Well, the head of Infectious Disease at our local Children's Hopsital once told one of my son's ex-doctors that amoxicillin kills strep...period

 

I've had this discussion with my doc too. And he's right - IN A TEST TUBE. But in the real world, i.e. the human body, we all know it is a very different story. There are lots of ways for strep to avoid the amoxicillin. This is well documented, so why don't these doctors know this? Scary!

[colleenrn]

It is scary that these ID docs see strep and so black and white. It is what is being taught in medical and nursing schools and it is not correct. There is SO much education about strep (even minus PANDAS)that needs to happen. These docs need to be taught what we parents have figured out for ourselves. That you don't always get elevated titers. That penicillin does not aleways kill strep. That longer courses of antbiotics are needed. And that strep is not just in the throat. I honestly think there are docs out there that think you can't get strep once your tonsils are out and that a negative throat culture means the entire body is strep free. I am not doctor bashing, just venting.

Colleen

[EAMom]

It is scary that these ID docs see strep and so black and white. It is what is being taught in medical and nursing schools and it is not correct. There is SO much education about strep (even minus PANDAS)that needs to happen. These docs need to be taught what we parents have figured out for ourselves. That you don't always get elevated titers. That penicillin does not aleways kill strep. That longer courses of antbiotics are needed. And that strep is not just in the throat. I honestly think there are docs out there that think you can't get strep once your tonsils are out and that a negative throat culture means the entire body is strep free. I am not doctor bashing, just venting.

Colleen

 

I agree.

[matis_mom]

It's amazing that it just depends on which doctor you see, sometimes even in the same practice! The ID doctor I saw showed great concern over my mildly elevated ASO, gave me a bicillin shot right there and then, agreed that my tonsils should come out, run a whole lot of bloodwork, sent me for an echo, and wants me to re-check titers after the tonsillectomy, just to be sure. It was so refreshing to be taken seriously for once!

 

But then again it just feels horrible to know that you go to one doctor they tell you one thing, and then you go to another and they tell you something completely different. My PCP did not agree that the tonsils needed to come out, the ENT and the ID where all for it. Who are you supposed to believe? The ones that say don't worry, you are fine, or the ones that go over-board??? I've been through enough the last year to go ahead and get the those things out!