strep while on 3 abx?

[KaraM]

Hi,

 

My dd11 has been treated for PANDAS/Lyme/Bartonella for 2 1/2 years. She has been on her current combo cocktail of daily Zithromax/Bactrim as well as Tindamax on weekends for over a year.

She is hardly ever physically ill. She's been complaining of stomach ache/nausea and a feeling in her throat like she's going to throw up for close to a week now. Today, she said her throat is also starting to get sore.

Called the pediatrician and spoke with the nurse. She said these are all strep symptoms and said I could bring her in for a swab.

 

I know it's possible to get strep while on antibiotics. But what are the chances when she is on three??? I'm not so sure I want to bring her in to the sick visit office for a swab. However, if someone here says that their child has tested positive for strep while on such a combo, I will.

 

IF it is strep, would switching abx address this? She's allergic to amox, so can't take this or Augmentin.

 

I have a call in to her Lyme doc to discuss as well, but would still appreciate hearing anyone's experiences here.

 

Thanks,

Kara

Edited January 24, 2013 by KaraM

[LNN]

Of the three, only zith protects against strep. Re: bactrim, found this: Bactrim is not recommended for preventative or prolonged use in middle ear infections and should not be used in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat) or certain other strep infections. http://antibioticinformation.blogspot.com/2005/12/bactrim.html

 

So yeah, maybe it could be strep. Are you seeing any neuropsych symptoms? If you do get a swab and need an abx, perhaps omnicef would help (tho being allergic to the penicillins, there's a chance she may also develop allergies to the cephalosporins (incl. omnicef). This happened to my own DD, who was covered in hives a few days after starting omnicef). Maybe call Dr J's office and ask what abx he'd recommend if it's strep. Or maybe a natural supplement? Keep us posted! You're in my thoughts...

[beeskneesmommy]

My son has gotten Strep right thru Augmentin, Azith, Keflex when he still had his tonsils. I know of several kids who get Strep right thru the abx, even after T&A. She could just have a virus, but what could it hurt to get her swabbed? Just ask ahead of time to have her go right into an exam room when you get there instead of hanging out in the icky, buggy waiting room...

[KaraM]

Thanks Everyone,

 

I am happy to report that she is not exhibiting any PANDAS symptoms. OCD is non-existent at this point. The only thing we seem to be dealing with anymore is academic stuff. And we will be seeing a developmental optomotorist tomorrow to test for convergence insufficiency.

I'm going a bit off topic here..but at our visit a couple of weeks ago, Dr. J. said, depending on the results from her IgeneX testing, she may be able to go off abx altogether. (Insert smiley not working...) :-)))

 

 

Dr. J's office just called me. The person I spoke with said something to the effect that Zithromax, if used for Lyme, will not be effective for strep. (At least that's how I understood it...I didn't ask why). She said if she's positive, she will need to go on another antibiotic.

She told me to have her cultured (3day) and have the results faxed to them.

 

They also read me her results from our last visit (Jan 11). Her strep titers have been running in the normal range for at least two years. And they've all declined since the last measure done at the end of the summer.

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Thanks again for your responses.

 

Kara

[sf_mom]

A good friend with Lyme and PANS son got very sick from strep last May while on multiple antibiotics for Lyme. They too had to rotate specifically to treat. They also tested her son and he had strep in his nose. It took her a long time to fully recover.... I think 6 weeks. It really dragged on her immune system. Her son didn't seem to flair either due to multiple antibiotics and was probably the source for exposure to her. If your DD is positive I would check everyone in the house just to be assured you are not passing it back and forth.

Edited January 24, 2013 by SF Mom

[airial95]

My son has tested positive while on Augmentin/Azith combo. He has also tested postive while on Azith, Aumgmentin and Cefdinir individually as well. The combo he was on was pretty hefty too (500 mg Augment 2x/day 250 mg Azith 1x/day for a 37 lb 4 yo).

 

I was told while it's highly unlikely - it's not impossible. They added a rifampin boost and that took care of it.

[dcmom]

My daughters both tested positive (cuture) for strep while on antibiotics. One was on zithromax and rifampin, the other was on zithromax and augmentin- all full dose. We took them off all antibiotics and gave them clindamycin, which cleared the strep. We did follow with a round of steroids, as we did see some pandas issues start to appear. They were fine.

 

(we are not dealing with lyme, that we know of)

 

That was a turning point (for the better) in our pandas journey. I came to the realization that I cannot keep them from getting sick, but just need a plan in place for when they do. We dropped ALL antibiotics, supplements and probiotics at that point. We only used meds/supps/probiotics if they have a flare up. They have been much better since we made this change, and I rest easier.

 

Hope your dd is fine, and you soon get the go ahead that you are done with the lyme treatment.

[cobbiemommy]

DS tested positive for strep while on Doxycycline and Rifampin. It was also in his nose. Augmentin XR cleared it, but he is still taking Augmentin to prevent Strep. Good luck!

[KaraM]

So we went to get a throat culture and had an appointment with one of the docs in the practice. I had a bad feeling when I heard who we were going to see, but my main priority was to get the culture done, and that was achieved.

 

Of course he said she would not get strep while on the antibiotics. Armed with knowledge and confidence I've gained from so many of you here, I said, "my understanding is that is controversial." And he said, yes, it is, but he's "sure" you can't.

 

I mentioned that our specialist said that after being treated with Zithromax for so long, it may no longer be effective and he mumbled agreement that there could be some resistance. (But I thought he was sure??? )

 

More than anything, the closed minded attitude just gets to me.

 

As whacked as it sounds , it's enough to make me hope for a positive culture, just to prove the point!!!

 

(As you can see, my Emoticons are working again!)