testing for carriers in the family

[thenmama]

xx

Edited March 26, 2013 by thenmama

[mkur]

Dr B wrote a script to test titers for each member of our family. We went to the lab to draw blood. Mine and non pandas son were elevated so our family doctor put us all on axb. My husband had explained that our pandas son would be having IVIG and we needed to eliminate all strep. We treated the dog too.

Edited May 23, 2011 by mkur

[jenbug]

Wow, that is interesting! I didn't realize you could carry it and not be affected! I will have to tell the pediatrician that at next appointment!

[beeskneesmommy]

Hi:

 

I have thought about testing our dog - do you just ask the vet to test for Strep or are there other specific key words I should use in addressing this with the vet? I know they will be OK about it because my son's 1st acute episode kicked off at the vets. I have often made the observation that whenever we go to the vet, my son's PANDAS response is exacerbated and lasts for the rest of the day (at the very least). I have never been able to wrap my brain around this. Any thoughts? I wondered if it could be environmental chemicals, etc. However, he just tested as allergic to dogs. Maybe the concentration of animals in 1 place sets off allergies, thus setting off PANDAS symptoms? Is it possible that Strep is higher at the vets d/t the dog population? Hope I don't sound like a nut - just trying to figure it out...

[peglem]

Hi:

 

I have thought about testing our dog - do you just ask the vet to test for Strep or are there other specific key words I should use in addressing this with the vet? I know they will be OK about it because my son's 1st acute episode kicked off at the vets. I have often made the observation that whenever we go to the vet, my son's PANDAS response is exacerbated and lasts for the rest of the day (at the very least). I have never been able to wrap my brain around this. Any thoughts? I wondered if it could be environmental chemicals, etc. However, he just tested as allergic to dogs. Maybe the concentration of animals in 1 place sets off allergies, thus setting off PANDAS symptoms? Is it possible that Strep is higher at the vets d/t the dog population? Hope I don't sound like a nut - just trying to figure it out...

Its likely the dog allergy. I have a daughter w/ a cat allergy and the cat does not have to be present. All it takes to trigger symptoms is to be in a place where a cat has recently been.

[EAMom]

We test our younger (non-pandas) dd a fair amount (every few months), only throat swabs, not titers. She's the one that is an assymptomatic carrier.

 

Our PANDAS dd has never had a rise in titers (even with positive throat cultures)...so I guess for that reason we never bothered to subject our younger dd to strep titer blood tests. Maybe if we had to draw blood for another reason, we could add that in. Plus, it seems she does culture positive when it makes sense (for example after a strep notice in school).

 

Anyway, if you do go through the trouble of titers (blood test) I would also insist on strep throat cultures...since it's possible that the blood test could be neg./normal, and the throat culture positive.

Edited May 30, 2011 by EAMom

[SSS]

We have an HMO, who refused to treat my dd for pandas, but, when I asked them to pull titers and swab my entire family, they agreed. So, before IVIG, everyone in this house was swabbed and had a blood test for strep titers.

[eljomom]

Do titers mean active infection, or even carriage? I thought IgM had a rise 4-6 weeks after infection (but how do you know a "rise" if you don't have a baseline), and IgG was 6-8 weeks. Again....AFTER INFECTION. I just don't understand how people need to be treated for titers? I may be totally off here, but titers rise AFTER infection, right? It could be gone (I have been told that strep will usually clear on its own.....) but titers still be up?