Titers

[riffleshell]

In the middle of October, my son had a strep throat infection and some odd mild PANDAs-like behaviors in the wake of it. (See previous question.)

 

We did a second round of antibiotics and the odd behaviors resolved but my son still seems more irritable//forgetful than before. He's been getting in more trouble at school as well. But you know, he's in fifth grade. It's a tough time.

 

I ended up having his titers run and just got the results:

• ASO 200 (On this test, 200 is the upper limit of normal.)
• DNAse-B – 800. (The upper limit of normal on this test is 310.)

Are those results abnormal for a child who had a confirmed case of strep 7 weeks ago? Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

[JoyBop]

Sounds right on the money to me! ASO rises a week or so after infection (sometimes even later) but then falls. The dnase rises 6-8 weeks later. Both may stay elevated for up to a whole year. Our ID doc recommends testing every 4 months.

[3bmom]

By accident we found out the irritability and confusion was leftover inflammation. We attributed it to being a moody teenager since he has been stable for 2 years from OCD and tics. Gave him prescription ibuprofen for wisdom teeth and saw for the first time our easy going, laughing 6 year old.

 

Did you check other infections besides strep? Diet?

[riffleshell]

3bmom: How did you figure out it was inflammation? Because that is what I'm wondering about. How long did you keep him on ibuprofen? Did you eventually taper him off or do you just keep him on? Our doc is wiling to to give us antibiotics, but part of me thinks that might not be the best approach.

 

All his odd "PANDAS" behavior is totally gone. So do we need a ABX for a kid who is just a little spacier and crankier than before? Is there a gentler approach?