Strep B

[Suzan]

Are there others out there who have had Strep B? What have your experiences been regarding how it affects the children? My girls get recurring V. Strep A not B. I found out yesterday I am a carrier of Strep B. My doc put me on antibiotics. I'm trying to determine how important it is to ensure if this round knocked it out. My doctor does not want to retest since it is his belief if I have no symptoms it's not important.

 

Does anyone have any experience with V. Strep B causing PANDAS episodes in their children? If they are not getting the B strain, does it matter if I have it?

 

Dr. K says only Strep A has been connected with PANDAS. Dr. Cunningham says that all strep are related and it could be causing issues.

 

Thanks!

 

Susan

[thereishope]

My son's neurologist said that no one really knows if all strains of strep can cause PANDAS to surface. Even w/ my son, the neurologist said that there is a chance he may contract strep one day & not have the symptoms of PANDAS. There's not enough research to know.

 

Do your daughters have a reaction if they are just around strep? I find it odd that a doc thinks it's ok to have permanently strep B. Is that what they screen when you're pregnant & they swab you? If you need to, call the gyne and ask. Maybe they'll be more proactive in clearing it up.I think, psychologically, you'll feel better knowing it isn't there.

[ShaesMom]

Hi Susan,

 

My son, who is now 9, had Group B strep which turned into meningitis at two weeks of age. He spent 8 days in the hospital and another 7 on IV abx. It was VERY scary.

 

At the time it was believed that he contracted the strep when he was born vaginally and that I was the carrier. I believe every pregnant woman is screened for this during prenatal care. I tested negative when I was pregnant with him. I also tested negative during a pregnancy that resulted in miscarriage and again was negative when I was pregnant with Shae. I was tested three times during the last pregnancy, all were negative, but I was still given abx during her delivery in case I was a carrier.

 

Old school thought used to be that it had to come from the mother but I've read recently that it is now suspected that a newborn can get group B from anyone who is a carrier-especially after the first week of life.

 

I've asked several times through the years if there was a connection with his Group B and all the strep infections that myself, him and his sister have had and always received the same answer--"NO, they are different strains." I've often wondered if my husband is the carrier but he always comes back negative for strep A and I don't believe he has ever been tested for strep B.

 

It is interesting that Dr. Cunningham says that all strep is related and could be causing problems considering that Shae has failed the streptococcus pneumonea titers and doesn't make antibodies to those particular strains which are supposed to be different than Strep A.

 

Did you find out the results from the blood work yet??

 

Sam

[Suzan]

I've asked several times through the years if there was a connection with his Group B and all the strep infections that myself, him and his sister have had and always received the same answer--"NO, they are different strains." I've often wondered if my husband is the carrier but he always comes back negative for strep A and I don't believe he has ever been tested for strep B.

 

It is interesting that Dr. Cunningham says that all strep is related and could be causing problems considering that Shae has failed the streptococcus pneumonea titers and doesn't make antibodies to those particular strains which are supposed to be different than Strep A.

 

Did you find out the results from the blood work yet??

 

I get the test results back tomorrow. Very anxious about that! I don't understand what the strep pneumonea titers is all about, I'll have to talk to you about that again.

 

Maybe we are on to something here with the strep B, or maybe it's just a dead end. It is interesting though that you had B infections and lot of strep A too.

 

 

My son's neurologist said that no one really knows if all strains of strep can cause PANDAS to surface. Even w/ my son, the neurologist said that there is a chance he may contract strep one day & not have the symptoms of PANDAS. There's not enough research to know.

 

Do your daughters have a reaction if they are just around strep? I find it odd that a doc thinks it's ok to have permanently strep B. Is that what they screen when you're pregnant & they swab you? If you need to, call the gyne and ask. Maybe they'll be more proactive in clearing it up.I think, psychologically, you'll feel better knowing it isn't there.

 

 

My GYN said it didn't matter too.... I find it odd as well. I think my kids react to strep when just around it but I'm just not sure yet. They are still struggling at home. Maybe it is because of the strep B. It will be interesting to see if they improve after my antibiotic round anyway. I'll pay attention to that.

[ShaesMom]

[i get the test results back tomorrow. Very anxious about that! I don't understand what the strep pneumonea titers is all about, I'll have to talk to you about that again.

 

Maybe we are on to something here with the strep B, or maybe it's just a dead end. It is interesting though that you had B infections and lot of strep A too.]

 

 

For some reason I keep thinking today is Wednesday!! LOL

 

If her results come back and show she failed the titers, I think we are on to something with the streptococcus pneumonea.

 

To my knowledge I have never had a Strep B infection, they just assumed I was the carrier because of the vaginal birth but I always came back negative when they swabbed me (I've been tested five times).

 

I never had a strep A infection until my son brought it home from preschool and then I had it for three months straight-couldn't get rid of it. That was also the first year my dd had strep at 18 months. The three of us have had chronic strep ever since. My husband has only gotten it maybe once or twice.

[dcmom]

I definately tend to believe Dr Cunningham.

 

I am always suspicious when doctors are "sure" about something. Medicine doesn't really seem to work that way. When I had conversations with a great neurologist, Dr. T, he was much more open and honest about how much isn't known. IMHO the sign of a great doctor/scientist is the one who will admit we don't know much. When you dig with doctors about how strep manifests, how to test for it, etc., it is clear that we are just scratching the surface.

 

I wonder about the different strains. My pandas dd had strep twice before her pandas episode. Both cases were much more typical: fever, sore throat, miserable, and absolutely NO unusual behavoirs. Thos past time she had strep, there was no fever, no sore throat- only behavoir issues that finally led us to a positive throat culture. Her older sister (non pandas) had strep once or twice and then had her tonsils out. She had no strep for a few years. She got strep from her sister (the time of pandas) and manifested it much differently. She tired and cranky, but no sore throat or fever. We had her tested because I now freak out about strep. She was left with something like IBS from that infection. Whatever the strain that went through here was, it ravaged my kids- but with very little typical medical symptoms.

 

What does this mean? I don't know. But I do know there is one study (i think Pincichero & Murphy) that states that most of the pandas kids were presenting without the "typical" strep symtoms.

[Suzan]

I definately tend to believe Dr Cunningham.

 

I am always suspicious when doctors are "sure" about something. Medicine doesn't really seem to work that way. When I had conversations with a great neurologist, Dr. T, he was much more open and honest about how much isn't known. IMHO the sign of a great doctor/scientist is the one who will admit we don't know much. When you dig with doctors about how strep manifests, how to test for it, etc., it is clear that we are just scratching the surface.

 

I wonder about the different strains. My pandas dd had strep twice before her pandas episode. Both cases were much more typical: fever, sore throat, miserable, and absolutely NO unusual behavoirs. Thos past time she had strep, there was no fever, no sore throat- only behavoir issues that finally led us to a positive throat culture. Her older sister (non pandas) had strep once or twice and then had her tonsils out. She had no strep for a few years. She got strep from her sister (the time of pandas) and manifested it much differently. She tired and cranky, but no sore throat or fever. We had her tested because I now freak out about strep. She was left with something like IBS from that infection. Whatever the strain that went through here was, it ravaged my kids- but with very little typical medical symptoms.

 

What does this mean? I don't know. But I do know there is one study (i think Pincichero & Murphy) that states that most of the pandas kids were presenting without the "typical" strep symtoms.

 

Well, this is my kids for sure. They don't get the sore throat, fever etc. either. And now they just get it in their vagina! Well said about the doc's and what they know or don't know....when you think of it, it's pretty amazing what they have figured out so far. I sure hope we find out more about PANDAS soon!

 

Sam.... I got strep when my dd at 16 months got strep the first time and I had it back to back for a few months! This is when she started pulling out her hair and acting all nutty! I had so much pain from that strep. I remember that very well. The pain in my legs, arms, torso....

 

Susan

[ShaesMom]

Yes! That winter I had it from December until March and I literally got up in the morning, took my son and to school and came home and slept until it was time to pick him up. I gained 10 pounds in those four months because the only thing that sounded good to eat was shakes!

 

Shae still remembers that year and will occasionally ask me if I still take naps when they go to school. She will also make a comment about the time that I slept all day while she watched tv. I know-bad parent-but I was literally exhausted!

[colleenrn]

This is the link to a thread I started a while ago about my 2 yo testing positive for Group B strep. The details are in that post, but during a PANDAS flareup in all 4 of my children, my then newly turned 2 year old tested positive in an upper respiratory culture for Group B and I was postive for beta strep, non A, B, C, and G.

 

I was Group B positive during all 4 of my pregnancies. I was treated with antibiotics at 37 weeks and again during labor. All of my kids were fine- none of them got sick. I feel I must be a carrier b/c I was never cleared and I have been worried all these years about me exposing my children to Group B strep. I know that it is not just strep A that affects my kids. It is any and all types of strep. This is the reason I now ONLY do upper respiratory cultures. Had I done a regular strep culture, I would not have found out about the 2 other streps My son and I had. It may be a little more expensive, but it provides more information.

 

I agree that figuring this out is very tricky. Any input would be appreciated.

 

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...ic=4107&hl=

 

Colleen

[thereishope]

How do they do an upper respiratory culture?

 

 

This is the link to a thread I started a while ago about my 2 yo testing positive for Group B strep. The details are in that post, but during a PANDAS flareup in all 4 of my children, my then newly turned 2 year old tested positive in an upper respiratory culture for Group B and I was postive for beta strep, non A, B, C, and G.

 

I was Group B positive during all 4 of my pregnancies. I was treated with antibiotics at 37 weeks and again during labor. All of my kids were fine- none of them got sick. I feel I must be a carrier b/c I was never cleared and I have been worried all these years about me exposing my children to Group B strep. I know that it is not just strep A that affects my kids. It is any and all types of strep. This is the reason I now ONLY do upper respiratory cultures. Had I done a regular strep culture, I would not have found out about the 2 other streps My son and I had. It may be a little more expensive, but it provides more information.

 

I agree that figuring this out is very tricky. Any input would be appreciated.

 

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...ic=4107&hl=

 

Colleen

[ShaesMom]

I sent my husband in a few years ago to see if he was the strep carrier since he never seemed to get it when the rest of us did and if I remember correctly the test showed that he was not a carrier of Strep A but was positive for Beta Strep. Of course, we were told not to worry about it because it wasn't the same thing and wouldn't cause strep throat. I'm going to have to check into this and see exactly what it showed. I also think my dd may have been positive for strep in some of her frequent UTI's.

 

HHHMMMM. Something to thing about.

[familyof4]

During my son's last Panda's related outbreak his culture grew out strep B and not Strep A. In him for sure Strep B causes PANDAS symptoms. By the 2nd day on anitbiotics he was much improved.

 

Heather

[Suzan]

Thanks so much everyone! Really great discussions!

 

Susan

[colleenrn]

To do an upper respiratory culture, you just swab the throat the same as a regular strep swab. When it gets to the lab, they test it differently.

There is a nurse at our office who does very thorough swabs and I was talking to him about how some nurses just stick the swab in and out. You have to make sure (mention ahead of time you want a really good swab)that they hit BOTH tonsils, the uvula, and the sides of the throat. Don't let them take two swabs at once (one for rapid test and one for culture). Ask them to swab it one at a time.

 

Colleen

[ShaesMom]

To do an upper respiratory culture, you just swab the throat the same as a regular strep swab. When it gets to the lab, they test it differently.

There is a nurse at our office who does very thorough swabs and I was talking to him about how some nurses just stick the swab in and out. You have to make sure (mention ahead of time you want a really good swab)that they hit BOTH tonsils, the uvula, and the sides of the throat. Don't let them take two swabs at once (one for rapid test and one for culture). Ask them to swab it one at a time.

 

Colleen

 

Colleen,

 

My kids won't hardly let them do a single quick swab--how do get yours to sit still and cooperate for two intense swabs???