Scarlet Fever...what to watch for in my TS/PANDAS kid and his twin?

[vermontmoms]

Well, we were officially dx with Scarlet Fever this AM. My twin boys are on Amox. for the next 10days. My one twin has already been dx w/TS over a year ago and we are due to see Dr. Latimer in3wks. How will this new infection affect his testing? Could this new infection make his symptoms worse or will the antibiotics make his tics subside?

 

Also, my non-TS twin has started showing signs of OCD type behaviors over the last week. He is smelling his fingers over and over after he touches things. He had mild tics (brushing up of his bangs and a clicking noise) during his first strep infection when he was 4 (2yrs ago) but those went away after 2mths post-infection. We are very concerned that he will develop tics from this new strep/scarlet fever infection. What do you recommend? Should we have Dr. Cunningham test run on both boys for PANDAS? Should we have Dr. Latimer see both boys?

 

Thanks for any help and suggestions you can provide!

Jen...

[sf_mom]

I would watch them both very carefully for an increase in behavior (document behavior every day). Scarlet Fever could make the symptoms worse and I wouldn't hesitate to ask for an extension of existing antibiotics or change to Augmentin or Azithromycin to get through to your Latimer appointment in 3 weeks. If you can not secure further antibiotics, I would retest 14 days from last antibiotic dose to ensure the strep has been eradicated.

 

You should do the Cummingham Test on both and you should see Latimer with both.

 

I too have twins boy/girl and both fall within PANDAS range of 148 and 157 for Cunningham Test.

 

-Wendy

 

 

 

Well, we were officially dx with Scarlet Fever this AM. My twin boys are on Amox. for the next 10days. My one twin has already been dx w/TS over a year ago and we are due to see Dr. Latimer in3wks. How will this new infection affect his testing? Could this new infection make his symptoms worse or will the antibiotics make his tics subside?

 

Also, my non-TS twin has started showing signs of OCD type behaviors over the last week. He is smelling his fingers over and over after he touches things. He had mild tics (brushing up of his bangs and a clicking noise) during his first strep infection when he was 4 (2yrs ago) but those went away after 2mths post-infection. We are very concerned that he will develop tics from this new strep/scarlet fever infection. What do you recommend? Should we have Dr. Cunningham test run on both boys for PANDAS? Should we have Dr. Latimer see both boys?

 

Thanks for any help and suggestions you can provide!

Jen...

[mama2alex]

I think you should definitely do the Cunningham test for both boys. Maybe you can ask them for a price break for twins, if the cost is a hardship. I also think you should have both of them examined and treated by Dr. Latimer.

 

Also, 10 days of antibiotics doesn't sound like enough, especially for your twin who was dx'd with TS a year ago. You may want to rerun throat cultures after the antibiotic course is finished, if your doctor isn't willing to just extend it.

 

You should also cuture everyone else in your family, just in case someone has it but is asymptomatic - this is common among the families here.

 

Keep us posted!

[EAMom]

My understanding is that a good part of the cost of running the test is the overnight shipping...so I think you could definitely get some kind of price break if you collect and mail both samples together.