Should test for strep?

[kallik]

My son has had a sore throat for about 3-4 days and yellow mucous in nose. My husband had bronchitis, and then I caught what he had, and now my son has this. The most his temp has been is 99. I was just wondering if I should get a strep culture done just to be safe. I don't want to think negatively, but I sure don't want him to have a strep infection, and his tics to get worse! He's been practically tic free the last two days for some reason, and I'm upset because tonight for some reason he's clearing his throat again. I've been watching his diet better and giving him magnesium taurate the last two days, so I attributed his tics being better to that. I guess it wouldn't hurt to get him tested anyway.

[Caryn]

He's been practically tic free the last two days for some reason, and I'm upset because tonight for some reason he's clearing his throat again. I've been watching his diet better and giving him magnesium taurate the last two days, so I attributed his tics being better to that. I guess it wouldn't hurt to get him tested anyway.

 

I read *I believe* in Sheila Rogers book that when symptoms lessen while a child is *fasting* due to illness then is an indicator that something in the diet is triggering an increase in tics. Keep a mental note of this and see if it holds true in the future as well. Having said that, I would get a culture to be on the safe side. Hopefully he will be negative, but how would you know unless you just get it done? I had strep myself last January. My temp was much higher and I could not talk, eat, etc.... People can be carriers and not get sick from it either.

Caryn

[LisaM]

I would definitely bring him for a culture. As you said, It can't hurt and with new symptoms you really should be sure.

 

Lisa

[kallik]

So they did a throat culture today, (the nurse has barely no personality at all), because I specifically asked them to. The doctor in training came in first and looked at his throat and nose, and asked what other issues he has, and I mentioned the tics and he said he noticed and that the reason he noticed is because his nine year old son has tourettes! He and his wife have four younger children! I asked if he was the only one with tics and he said yes. We mentioned my son had played "Doom" on the computer and that opened up a strange discussion about how kids with tics supposedly are more susceptible to the violence in these games, and they easily fall into mysticism per these games. That I thought a little weird and ignored. Then I tried to "help" him by telling him about this forum and the good advice and how kids have gotten better from certain supplements and such and he should go to it and check it out, and he basically said no, and the only thing they had tried for their son was St. John's Wort. Oh well, another close minded doctor, and person! He asked if our son had OCD and we said no, and he said that was a little strange because "most of these kids do." Another untrue statement. Anyway, when the primary doctor came in, the whole time I was asking for a throat culture I didn't even look at the first doctor, just felt his disapproval. They gave us an antibiotic, I specifically asked for one without Red 40, but guess what they gave us? Anyway, I got the throat culture!

[Chemar]

nothing some doctors do ever surprises me anymore kallik saddens me yes, but surprised....nope, as I have long since learned that most have their minds closed shut What saddens me most is that so many of them wont even bother to listen and maybe go investigate for themselves

 

was the throat culture positive for strep? I ask cos you say they prescribed antibiotics and so I asssume it was for strep??

 

also, re the game.......if it is very explosive in terms of flashing lights, then there is always the chance of photosensitive triggered tics. One of the reasons we taught our son to always have a daylight lamp on when he plays games. He isnt highly photosensitive like some kids with tics can be (see Claire's many excellent posts on "screens" and "photosensitivity" ) but he definitely reacts to intensity of light flashing in darkened rooms with more tics.

[kallik]

He went ahead and gave him the antibiotic because he said we're testing for strep, so let's go ahead and treat for strep. He said 50% of the negatives are correct and about 90 % of the positives are correct, and because it takes a week to get the results back they go ahead and treat. Which is a good thing I guess, except they gave him an antibiotic which has Red 40 in it! I just can't bring myself to give him Red 40 now that we've eliminated it from his diet. I'm not sure if he's even sensitive to it, it might be a good experiment to give it to him just once and see if he reacts. But I think I'll abstain!

[Caryn]

You could take it to your pharmacist and ask if they could substitute for one w/o artificial colors. Our pharmacist did that, then had the script verified by phoning the doc while I waited.

[Chemar]

yikes I do find it troubling that a doc would put a child on antibiotics *before* having evidence of a microbial infection and honestly, even if it does turn out to be strep, I think I would wait to get results first were it me.

 

and yes, pharmacists are able to substitute drugs for ones without artificial coloring