Flu has hit our household

[sf_mom]

Our two year twins now have the flu.... Our little girl woke up vomiting two days ago and now our little boy woke up this morning vomiting. So far, it appears to be a 24 hour bug. BUT, of course my concern is for our older PANDAS son and the potential of him getting sick and having a reaction. This is the first time something has hit our house since our PANDAS son got sick at the end of June.

 

For the more experienced individuals, has your PANDAS child gotten sick with the flu and survived without an increase in TICS/OCD symptoms? My concern is that his PANDAS could be trigger by more than just strep now... We are in the process of getting all his subclasses tested so I'm not sure how weak his immune system is at this point.

 

I think I'm suffering from PTPE 'Post Traumatic PANDAS Episode'!!!

 

-Wendy

[ShaesMom]

Wendy--I'm so sorry. I know how scared you must be feeling right now. My daughter tested positive for Flu A back in March while we were still doing the testing for Pandas. It only lasted about 3 days but since she was already in the middle of a Pandas episode I can't really say if it made her symptoms worse.

 

I'll keep you in my thoughts.

 

Sam

[thereishope]

Last year (or early this year, I can't remember), the whole family got the flu, except for my son w/ PANDAS. For once, the odds were in his favor (4/5 people had it), So, there is a chance your son won't get sick.

 

When my PANDAS son gets sick w/ other things that are not strep, I see some odd things resurface but not full force (like w/strep) and it does not stick around.

[sf_mom]

Thanks for your quick responses. Did you increase antibiotics when others were sick, just in case and even though it might be viral?

 

-Wendy

[EAMom]

Both of our kids got the flu in June. Our PANDAS dd (older) was sicker longer than our younger dd. I've heard the H1N1 is like that (worse for older kids) so I don't know if the PANDAS had anything to do with it. She did have an exacerbation after she recovered...social anxiety, irritibility, emotional lability. We treated the exacerbation with a 6 days steroid burst. The burst took 2 weeks to take effect, although maybe it did something sooner by keeping the exacerbation from getting even worse, hard to say. (BTW we checked her CAM kinase ll during this exacerbation and it was up at 253%, the highest Dr. Cunningham has ever seen, previously she was in the mid/high PANDAS range.) We were on 250mg Azith. the whole time. We stopped the daily advil while we were doing the steroids.

 

Also, I also did read in the newspaper that many of the severe complications from H1N1 were from secondary bacterial infections...so I suppose it wouldn't hurt to increase the abs during the flu.

[sf_mom]

Thank again for the wealth of information and experiences! I'll increase antibiotics tonight for a couple of days (to see how it goes) and do a steroid burst if he gets sick.

[ShaesMom]

Also, I also did read in the newspaper that many of the severe complications from H1N1 were from secondary bacterial infections...so I suppose it wouldn't hurt to increase the abs during the flu.

 

 

Wendy-EAMOM brings up a good point about the secondary infections. Since your son failed the pneumococcal titers test you already know he is more prone to secondary infections so if it were me I would be extra cautious if he does get sick.

 

I know the plan at my house is to get anyone tested who may have the flu and immediately start my dd on one of the antiflu meds because of her immune issues. I'm also thinking that we may be wearing masks if and when it hits my house as an additional safety precaution. Seems kind of silly but I know my 9 year old is not very good about covering his mouth when he coughs no matter how often we remind him.

[mama2alex]

Wendy,

 

Sorry to hear your little ones have the flu! It hit our house last week and our son was the first to get it. He'd been about 90% better for about 10 days and then I started seeing the PANDAS symptoms coming back. I wasn't sure what was happening until it dawned on me - he has a runny nose, he's probably coming down with something. We switched to 500mg twice a day of Augmentin because our ped found an ear infection. They are quick to give antibiotics because of his history with pneumonia. It hit his lungs to some degree (2 days of wheezing), but thankfully no pneumonia. He's back to school as of today, but still experiencing strong PANDAS flare-up. They also tested him for H1N1 - rapid test was neg, but we're waiting for the lab results. Our ped said they are seeing a few cases of H1N1 per week - I had no idea it was so widespread in the Bay Area.

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed that your older son doesn't get sick!

 

Jennifer

[sf_mom]

Thanks Jennifer... I plan to double up tonight antibiotics for at least 5 days.

[Debbie1]

Wendy,

 

Our PANDAS dd had influenza A in May along with most of her classmates. Her PANDAS symptoms did not flare at all from it.

 

I hope everyone is feeling better today.

 

Debbie

[sf_mom]

Our twins seem to be doing better.... no vomiting in almost 24 hours. Our PANDAS son complained of a stomach ache but then went on to eat a BIG dinner and did not get sick. So far, he has not gotten sick.....

 

I doubled up on antibiotics.

 

Thanks for everyones support and recommendations.

[Kayanne]

Thank again for the wealth of information and experiences! I'll increase antibiotics tonight for a couple of days (to see how it goes) and do a steroid burst if he gets sick.

 

 

I'm glad that everyone seems to be on the mend. Can you clarify if you meant that you would do a steroid burst if he gets sick or if he has PANDAS issues?

 

My DH and I were discussing this just this morning...where to draw the line.

[FallingApart]

The flu has just hit our house as well. Our 2 yo DD has it. I'm wondering if the PANDAS DD had it last week and that is why all her symptoms were back. But would the IVIG clear it up if that were the case? So confusing!!!!

 

Can you explain once more in very simple terms why we should do a 5 day round of abs? I'm not quite getting it. Also if both siblings are on the abs, should both siblings get the 5 day round of the abs?

[sf_mom]

I made my decision to double up based on others recommendation.

 

Also, when I watched one of the clips of Susan Swedo on the internet.... she did say something about an increase or onset of symptoms a couple of days in advance of the child actually getting sick. My son started writing his name backwards yesterday. My husband also came down with the flu yesterday and was up almost every hour last night. So far, our PANDAS son is the only one in the house that has seemed NOT to have gotten sick..... but possibly fighting something off.

 

-Wendy

[sf_mom]

I figured I do a steroid burst if PANDA symptoms increased if he got sick. Its my understanding the child gets relief from the steroids because they are an anti-inflammatory (father-in-law is a urologist).