strep and negative throat culture?

[deagar]

Can you still have a strep infection that increases tics even when you test negative via throat culture for strep throat? If so, do you really need a blood test everytime to see if there is strep? Deanna

[Chemar]

Hi Deanna

I am not too sure about what you mean by "every time"?

 

If you feel that your child may have PANDAS induced tics, then yes, a blood test is the ONLY way to fully diagnose...people with PANDAS can test negative to strep throat culture, yet still have a strep infection that can only be detected by the blood test

If the titres for strep antibodies come up negative in the blood test, that is a pretty reliable indication that PANDAS is not an issue.

 

 

Here again are the guidelines posted before about accurate testing for PANDAS

 

Be sure to include a throat culture of group A B-hemolytic strep. Ask that the specimen be cultured, not just the rapid test.

MOST IMPORTANTLY do a blood test to assess elevated streptococcal antibodies (Anti-DNAse B and Antistreptolysin titers (ASO)).