Cindy in FL. Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Ds13 has been sick since Tuesday. I took him to the doctor on Thursday and he was negative for strep. Doctor said it was just a virus. Yesterday I woke up achy all over. Last night I had a fever of 101, chills, cough, and a runny nose. I though maybe ds actually had the flu so I went to urgent care this morning and had a strep test and a flu test. Strep was positive. I took ds in since he's still punky and both his tests were negative. The doctor said that sometimes our bodies will clear the strep on their own and I see that confirmed when I google. It also said that delaying treatment for a few days to wait for a throat culture is a good idea so you don't take unnecessary meds. I'd rather not take amoxicillin for 10 days if I don't need to. What's the hive wisdom on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I always, always, always treat strep. The potential risks of not treating far outweigh the risks if antibiotics, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 If you're not totally miserable, you could wait a couple of days, but that's about it. You'd have to go back in to make sure the Strep is cleared or take the antibiotics after that. You don't want to fool around with Strep because of the risk to your heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckles Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 If you have a positive test for strep, I would treat it without hesitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 If you know it's strep, you should treat it IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I would treat. Ask him if you can have something besides amox. You can get Zithromax in 3- and 5- day formulations, for example. But as PPs have said, untreated strep carries a lot of risks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I've had little brothers with scarlet fever due to untreated strep and I have permanent joint damage from the same. I ALWAYS treat strep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 We always treat strep with antibiotics. Much to risky not to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I would treat it without a second thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I have never considered not treated strep. I've never heard anyone say your body clears it on it's own. I'm sure it can, but while you wait you provide more opportunity for your family to have exposure. Seems like a recipe to ensure everyone gets it. Complications can be longterm and lifethreatening. Not worth whatever body strengthening immunity one might be trying to achieve IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Another thought--starting the abx today will mean that you will likely feel TONS better by Christmas Day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 Thanks for the replies. I'll start the abx tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 People die from untreated strep- some right away but many just have shortened lifespans since it can damage heart valves. Not a thing to mess with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaddon Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I am avoid antiboitoics at all costs for most things. Strep would be a reason for abx with no questions asked. It can lead to heart trouble. HOpe you get better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 I just took the first dose. I do already have mitral valve prolapse with moderate regurgitation, so I would not want to mess around with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Are they going to call you if your son's culture grows? I have one child that never has a positive rapid strep test, but it grows within a day or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbookbuzz Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 When you can treat it fairly easily with an antibiotic, why would you not do that? I say treat it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshin Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Yep, please always treat strep. My dad's heart condition was completely traced back to untreated strep that lead to scarlet fever when he was a child in 1949. His heart condition didn't surface until 1996. He's lucky to be alive, but his quality of life is nowhere what it could have been if antibiotics were commonly used back then. My kids have never taken antibiotics, but if I even slightly thought they had strep I would have it treated. The risks from the antibiotics are so much less than the risks from untreated strep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXBeth Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Honestly if you can get a Dr to give you an antibiotic for your DS, I would do that as well. Strep tests are often negative if you don't catch it early enough, but that doesn't necessarily mean the infection is not still doing damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 We rarely visit the doc and among my six kids we've only ever had antibiotics 5-6 times (and a few of those were dental things). So, I'm not hugely big on treating what will heal itself. BUT, as someone who had Rheumatic Fever, and stills deals with the after-effects to this day, I would NEVER mess around with a positive strep infection. In my mind, that IS NOT a frivolous use of antibiotics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Absolutely without hesitation I would treat the strep. Have one friend who ended up in kidney failure after untreated strep and another friend who's daughter ended up with the strep infection causing an infection in her foot/ankle wihich required surgery to remove. Kimberly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 If it starts circulating around the members of your household, I recommend getting everyone tested. We couldn't get rid of it one year. I asked the doctor what we should do, and he recommended testing everyone. It turned out that eldest DD, the only "healthy" one in the family at the time, was a carrier with no symptoms whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I just took the first dose. I do already have mitral valve prolapse with moderate regurgitation, so I would not want to mess around with that. And your doc wasn't, uh, sort of insistent that you start them immediately?! Glad you decided take them. Hope you're feeling better soon :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I always treat strep because my mom always told us about getting rheumatic fever twice when she was a child, and now she has serious heart issues. I don't fool around with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 It was an urgent care facility, not my regular doc. And your doc wasn't, uh, sort of insistent that you start them immediately?! Glad you decided take them. Hope you're feeling better soon :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I always, always, always treat strep. The potential risks of not treating far outweigh the risks if antibiotics, IMO. Yes, always treat strep, without fail. However, if it helps any, I've read that adults rarely get strep. So, hopefully, this is a single shot deal for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somo_chickenlady Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Yes, always treat strep, without fail. However, if it helps any, I've read that adults rarely get strep. So, hopefully, this is a single shot deal for you. I've had strep a bunch of times as an adult, more than when I was a child. I agree, though, always treat it since untreated strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever (which can lead to heart valve damage). Not something to mess around with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I've had strep a bunch of times as an adult, more than when I was a child. I agree, though, always treat it since untreated strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever (which can lead to heart valve damage). Not something to mess around with. Hmmm. Well, I'm sorry you got it! Hopefully, never again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Yes, always treat strep! My grandmother had to have valves replaced from damage from childhood strep and I have a friend whose son got scarlet fever from it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Glad to see you got a lot of responses to treat. Strep is a scary thing unchecked...or when you develop antibiotic resistance. It can cause strange symptoms you may not even recognize for weeks. It can cause behavioral changes. It's not like letting an ear infection go untreated, which I did many times when mine were little. Always treat strep! and be on the lookout for unusual symptoms in any other children...just a headache, a belly ache, behavioral changes, tired legs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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