What dose?

[Betty04]

My 37lbs, 5 year old has been on Augmentin 250mg twice daily since October 2009. He was doing well until a possible school strep exposure over 2 weeks ago. Once his symptoms started increasing I doubled his Augmentin to 500mg twice daily. After a week on the increased dose, his symptoms significantly worsened. I regret that I sent him back to school but there were officially no reports of strep and his class size was small due to spring break. Well a week ago last Friday there was a reported strep in another preschool class. His symptoms began worsening over the weekend but were significantly worse after school on Monday. I have kept him on the increased dose and home from school all week. He has not improved at all? We are scheduled for IVIG in June, was waiting until the end of school year since he was doing well on Augmentin. Now that things are worse we are trying to do it sooner, but may not overcome some obstacles in scheduling. So its 2 weeks on the doubled Augmentin dose with worsening of symptoms. Would you reduce the dose back down to 250mg twice daily. I am fearful of this high dose for too long? Its just so discouraging

[thereishope]

I'm sorry things have worsened. If he is worsening from exposure and he didn't contract strep, his antibodies might have started to mount for a possible attack and now you have to wait for them to calm down. If you think he may have contracted strep, then talk to your doctor about switching to Azith. You could bring him in for a throat swab, but you also run the chance fo a false negative since he is taking abx.

 

Have you tried giving him Ibuprofen in hopes of just easing the symptoms?

[Betty04]

I'm sorry things have worsened. If he is worsening from exposure and he didn't contract strep, his antibodies might have started to mount for a possible attack and now you have to wait for them to calm down. If you think he may have contracted strep, then talk to your doctor about switching to Azith. You could bring him in for a throat swab, but you also run the chance fo a false negative since he is taking abx.

 

Have you tried giving him Ibuprofen in hopes of just easing the symptoms?

 

 

Vickie,

 

Thanks for your help. I did try one dose of Ibuprofen and it did not help... do you have to give a couple doses for a response? I really don't think he has strep but is just reacting to it. We took Azith in the past for a couple of months and it did not control his symptoms. I am just confused that if his antibodies are up, is it time more than the increased Augmentin dose that will make the difference? Thanks for your response.

[peglem]

I'm sorry things have worsened. If he is worsening from exposure and he didn't contract strep, his antibodies might have started to mount for a possible attack and now you have to wait for them to calm down. If you think he may have contracted strep, then talk to your doctor about switching to Azith. You could bring him in for a throat swab, but you also run the chance fo a false negative since he is taking abx.

 

Have you tried giving him Ibuprofen in hopes of just easing the symptoms?

 

 

Vickie,

 

Thanks for your help. I did try one dose of Ibuprofen and it did not help... do you have to give a couple doses for a response? I really don't think he has strep but is just reacting to it. We took Azith in the past for a couple of months and it did not control his symptoms. I am just confused that if his antibodies are up, is it time more than the increased Augmentin dose that will make the difference? Thanks for your response.

Its the antibodies that cause the symptoms and abx does not kill antibodies. So, yes, it takes time for the antibodies to decrease even after the bacteria are gone.

[thereishope]

Ibuprofen sometimes helps, sometimes doesn't. For my son, when it did help, it took 1/2 hour to kick in. Make sure you are dosing it appropriately and contact the pediatrican to find out the maximum you can give him. Sometimes, depending on where they fall in the weight range, the dose can be more than instructed on the box.

 

Also, if you increased antibiotics, did you increase probiotics? Make sure you keep up with those. Also, give Omega 3's.

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry things have worsened. If he is worsening from exposure and he didn't contract strep, his antibodies might have started to mount for a possible attack and now you have to wait for them to calm down. If you think he may have contracted strep, then talk to your doctor about switching to Azith. You could bring him in for a throat swab, but you also run the chance fo a false negative since he is taking abx.

 

Have you tried giving him Ibuprofen in hopes of just easing the symptoms?

 

 

Vickie,

 

Thanks for your help. I did try one dose of Ibuprofen and it did not help... do you have to give a couple doses for a response? I really don't think he has strep but is just reacting to it. We took Azith in the past for a couple of months and it did not control his symptoms. I am just confused that if his antibodies are up, is it time more than the increased Augmentin dose that will make the difference? Thanks for your response.

Edited April 17, 2010 by Vickie

[thereishope]

Here's what antibiotics actually do, as explained by Buster....

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5520

 

There seems to be a good amount of confusion about how antibiotics work.Just remember that antibiotics don't kill strep, they slow it down. Some antibiotics are bacteriostatic (like macrolides that slow replication) and some are bacteriacidal (like pennicilin that weaken cell walls). But the point is that antibiotics just slow down an infection and rely on the immune system to mount enough macrophages to surround and destroy invaders or take out infected cells.

 

If your son was reacting to being surrounded by strep, without actually getting it himself, right now you have to try to keep his immune system calm so the antibodies can start to calm down. Keep allergies in check, make sure no one in the house is sick. etc. That will hopefully help, but I can't promise it either.

Edited April 17, 2010 by Vickie

[Betty04]

Thanks for all the great information. I do have my son on increased probiotics and Omegas (we have been working with a DAN doc for over 2 years so we have always done supplements). He does not really have allergy symptoms right now but he definately has environmental allergies. I have been using a sinus rinse twice daily for him and I think that helps, plus filters throughout the house. However since he has not been in school he has been playing outside alot. He seems to still be getting worse (now he has more exaggerated neck/arm movements!). I am thinking of trying some Benedryl later to see if that makes a difference? His pupils are huge today!

[thereishope]

He's 5, right? My son's seasonal allergies slowly started creeping up around age 3 or 4, but they were very slight. I even have written on past calendars in a certain month....allergies? (added a question mark since we weren't sure). But, when he turned 5 years old, last year, his seasonal allergies took full effect for the first time. So, there is a chance, you are witnessing his first real year of seasonal allergies. I am not saying this is definietly the case, but it is something to keep an eye on.