jeninok Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I'm pretty sure what I thought was a cold, is actually strep. Headache, stuffiness runny nose but not extreme, burning ears, very sore throat, painful neck. I think I have the white patches in my throat and have developed a light splotchy red rash on my chest. I always got scarlet fever with strep as a kid. DS also started with a sore throat last night, and today he has the stuffies, yucky tummy, and slapped cheek look he always gets when he is "off". We aren't Flu sick, but my throat and ears are really uncomfortable. Allegra D usually would clear up cold congestion pretty well, but its not even touching the throat and ear stuff I have going on right now. I also started Sambucol at the first tickle, and hot tea with lemon made it worse, but cold strawberries felt good. So in your collective wisdom, does Strep always need antibiotics? I am trying to decide if we should get up and go to the urgent care place tomorrow morning, since it is friday. I was on 3 rounds of heavy duty antibiotics this fall/winter for a total of nearly 12 weeks and am running out of effective ones to take that don't cause awful reactions. DS just finished a z-pack two weeks ago for bronchitis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I asked the hive this question recently when I had strep. The answer was a resounding yes on the antibiotic. I say get tested and take the meds if needed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Yes, yes and yes. Don't mess around with strep. It can have very serious consequences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three4me Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Yes, strep needs antibiotics. BUT it also doesn't include symptoms of a typical cold. Of course it's possible to have strep AND a cold, but when I think I have strep and to in to the doctor one of the first questions they ask is if I've had cold symptoms. And cold symptoms are a strong indicator that it's NOT strep. If you hadn't said you have white patches then I'd probably just say to stay home, but with white patches I'd probably go in. But I'm no expert :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I don't use antibiotics for strep, but I'm pretty sure I'm the only person on the face of the earth. I gargle with cayenne and water as often as I can throughout the day when I have symptoms of strep. (Anecdote warning!) It works for me. It doesn't sound like you have strep though. I think you should go to urgent care, if it's a good one. Feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninok Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 I asked the hive this question recently when I had strep. The answer was a resounding yes on the antibiotic. I say get tested and take the meds if needed! I searched for strep but must have missed yours! I am just so Blah about finding an effective antibiotic that isn't going to cause me to feel even worse and cost an arm and a leg. At least Diflucan is only 4 dollars at walmart now! 2 rounds of Biaxin this fall had me a panicky weepy unable to eat much of anything and with an itchy burning head. Z-pac does the same thing. Amoxicillan and Augmentin never seem effective for me and I end up worse and back in to the doctor. I do have a stuffy nose, and assumed it was a cold at first, but it isn't that leaky faucet, sneezing, coughing stuff that normally comes with a cold. (As DS sneezes in the other room) Its just clogged, with burning ears and really sore red and white throat. Plus usually Allegra D, or Aleve cold and Sinus will work well enough with a cold to get me through the day with a fairly clear head. It isn't doing anything for me right now. I am so sick of us being sick! It has been non stop this season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 If it's strep you definitely want to be on antibiotics. You probably wouldn't need to get everyone tested though, just the sickest one! Another condition that gives that "slapped cheek" look though is Fifth Disease. You can get a rash with it, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninok Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 He gets the red cheeked all the time, he is just so very blonde. But when he is sick it comes and stays, I can usually take one look at him and between the glassy blue eyes and red cheeks, know he is coming down with something. When he really exerts himself playing hard it turns almost purple, it can be alarming but doctor said not to worry! We have never had 5ths disease though, and I am not starting now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 i would gargle with silver biotics. it will clear it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somo_chickenlady Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Strep doesn't usually come with cold syptoms. I have had Strep a millon times and a sore throat was usually my only symptom. A bad cold with drainage can leave my throat feeling just as bad, spots and everything, but it usually isn't strep then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OH_Homeschooler Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 When I had strep for the first time in 15 years last fall, I could not get on antibiotics fast enough. I was counting down the minutes between taking them and when I might start feeling better. And it sounds like what you describe, the headache and sore neck especially. You need to get treated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninok Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 It is Strep. DS has the same symptoms, even the spots, but came back negative on the test. We are filling a RX for him anyway! Dh just left work dizzy and feeling bad, probably going to have to send him in too. I'm am so sick of sickness! And a little frustrated DH seems to have it too. I really hoped I could hand him the reigns for a couple days so I could crash. Not that he can help it of course, but bleh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OH_Homeschooler Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 And a little frustrated DH seems to have it too. I really hoped I could hand him the reigns for a couple days so I could crash. Not that he can help it of course, but bleh. Aw, I'm sorry. I know the feeling. Sometimes you just want a sick day to yourself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninok Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Well, and I love him but the man cold is bad enough. The man Strep, with a kid with it, that is not allowed to happen when mom has it too. Goes against the laws of nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reflections Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 It is Strep. DS has the same symptoms, even the spots, but came back negative on the test. We are filling a RX for him anyway! Dh just left work dizzy and feeling bad, probably going to have to send him in too. I'm am so sick of sickness! And a little frustrated DH seems to have it too. I really hoped I could hand him the reigns for a couple days so I could crash. Not that he can help it of course, but bleh. Let's hope it's just sympathy pains and he snaps out of it when he gets home! My Rx is lots of snuggles on the couch while everyone watches the latest movie. Hope you all feel better soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 It is Strep. DS has the same symptoms, even the spots, but came back negative on the test. We are filling a RX for him anyway! Dh just left work dizzy and feeling bad, probably going to have to send him in too. I'm am so sick of sickness! And a little frustrated DH seems to have it too. I really hoped I could hand him the reigns for a couple days so I could crash. Not that he can help it of course, but bleh. :grouphug: Feel better soon! Listen to your body, and rest when you need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightly Salted Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 So sorry - we were diagnosed with strep and flu types A and B today. It's a bad year for sickness! Get better soon (hug) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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