Strep - How to be sure it's not there / it's gone

[matis_mom]

Hi all,

One of my kids tested positive for strep on Monday. I took some of the other kids in on Tuesday, all were negative. But, we definitely have the flu going through the house. Some of the kids are still running very high fevers. So my question is, how can I be sure they don't have strep as well (even if the rapid and the culture are negative, it's not 100%), and even for the one that they get a full 10 days of amoxicillin (which might not do the trick), what should I do? Take her back (how soon?) after she's done and have them re-test?

 

I know many of you have gone through this before, so if you can help me get the timing right I would really appreciate it. We have seven children so I need to make sure I bring them in at the right time or I'll spend my whole week at the the doctor's (I already did that this week, we were at some doctor or other every single day except for today!)

 

I am trying to be proactive without driving myself crazy!

 

Isabel

[Buster]

Isabel,

 

If you are testing for clearing, you should test between > 14 days from final day of treatment (i.e., >24 days from start). The reason is that there is a high false negative for 10 days post treatment. There's a nice paper by Kaplan that shows the actual statistics. I'll try to get you the reference.

 

In our house, we culture the others to ensure we don't have ping-ponging -- but sounds like you've got a full house so that may be impractical.

 

Buster

 

 

 

Hi all,

One of my kids tested positive for strep on Monday. I took some of the other kids in on Tuesday, all were negative. But, we definitely have the flu going through the house. Some of the kids are still running very high fevers. So my question is, how can I be sure they don't have strep as well (even if the rapid and the culture are negative, it's not 100%), and even for the one that they get a full 10 days of amoxicillin (which might not do the trick), what should I do? Take her back (how soon?) after she's done and have them re-test?

 

I know many of you have gone through this before, so if you can help me get the timing right I would really appreciate it. We have seven children so I need to make sure I bring them in at the right time or I'll spend my whole week at the the doctor's (I already did that this week, we were at some doctor or other every single day except for today!)

 

I am trying to be proactive without driving myself crazy!

 

Isabel

[thereishope]

To try to avoid passing strep around all over again, make sure you also change tooth brushes, tooth paste, eitehr have disposbale cups in the. bathroom or each child uses a new one every day. Also, wipe down the bathroom sinks. Kids don't always aim into the sink well. I have a very gross faucet with toothpaste splatter that prove that. I also change their sheets, esp pillow cases.

 

I know you got your kids tested for strep, but did you and your husband go too?

[matis_mom]

To try to avoid passing strep around all over again, make sure you also change tooth brushes, tooth paste, eitehr have disposbale cups in the. bathroom or each child uses a new one every day. Also, wipe down the bathroom sinks. Kids don't always aim into the sink well. I have a very gross faucet with toothpaste splatter that prove that. I also change their sheets, esp pillow cases.

 

I know you got your kids tested for strep, but did you and your husband go too?

I forgot about that!!! I have a friend who gives each child their own tube of toothpaste, makes sense! We are being proactive about disinfecting and keeping things separate. So far, it looks like we have it contained. I got tested, and so did most of the kids, and everyone is negative so far. I am just waiting for symptoms on the other because the ones that I took earlier in the week spiked up fevers AFTER we went in to the doctor. But it definitely looks like flu for everyone else. I think next week I'll just go the Minute Clinic and get whoever else is left tested just in case.

[EAMom]

I buy my kids the travel size toothpaste...each kid has their own. If they're on abs then both the toothbrush and toothpaste gets replaced a few days into the rx. The travel size still lasts a while and I don't have guilt about throwing out a big tube when I need to replace it.

[matis_mom]

Isabel,

 

If you are testing for clearing, you should test between > 14 days from final day of treatment (i.e., >24 days from start). The reason is that there is a high false negative for 10 days post treatment. There's a nice paper by Kaplan that shows the actual statistics. I'll try to get you the reference.

 

In our house, we culture the others to ensure we don't have ping-ponging -- but sounds like you've got a full house so that may be impractical.

 

Buster

Thanks! That answers my question about when to retest. Does anyone know what is the accuracy of those swabs (rapid and culture)? My PANDAS doctor mentioned a blood test, but I can't see getting everyone pricked right now. I just want to have an idea how reliable the throat cultures are.

 

Isabel