Mom's of school kids- how fast do you test for strep when they get sick

[Anonymous]

DS (6.5) has never had strep. So I don't rush to test for it when he gets sick. FWIW, I've never had it either, and neither has DH as long as I've known him.

A good friend's kids get strep all the time, and when I've talked to other friends and colleagues about it, it seems like kids either get it a lot, or never.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far, never. Hot water with honey has always cleared up DD's sore throats.

Perhaps your daughter, sure. But I was one who had strep CONSTANTLY as a child and it was incredibly painful. It's highly contagious and I always managed to catch it. If my parents had always just given me hot water and honey, I would have been one hurting child.

I eventually had to get my tonsils out.

Yep I'm the hot water poster, and I also spent a couple of years passing strep back and forth with my sibling. But I was asked what I do, and I answered, you know?

But aren't you putting our kids at risk for infection by not testing your child and keeping her home for a period of time?

Um no, because she always gets over her sore throat after 2-3 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I never get it right. Last time waited too long with a cold for 5 days and it was strep. Today DC has a 103 fever and no other symptoms besides not feeling good. I am wondering if I should get a strep test just to be on the safe side this time. My DH had strep about 2-3 weeks ago.

If anyone in your house has recently had strep and someone is sick, get the newly sick person tested. Strep doesn't always bring fever, and it is quite contagious.

[Anonymous]

Unless the sore throat was clearly the result of high pollen or a screamfest of a birthday party, I used to get her tested on the same day. I know of a three-year old who died hours after being sent home from doc with undiagnosed strep. I don't mess around. That said, the older she gets, the more time I give.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far, never. Hot water with honey has always cleared up DD's sore throats.

Left untreated, strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Serious illnesses that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart can follow untreated strep. I would ride out a cold but never strep. Strep throat can be easily diagnosed with a simple throat culture, and promptly treated. It's worth finding out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far, never. Hot water with honey has always cleared up DD's sore throats.

Left untreated, strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Serious illnesses that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart can follow untreated strep. I would ride out a cold but never strep. Strep throat can be easily diagnosed with a simple throat culture, and promptly treated. It's worth finding out.

THIS. Strep can get very serious very quickly. Just get tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far, never. Hot water with honey has always cleared up DD's sore throats.

Left untreated, strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Serious illnesses that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart can follow untreated strep. I would ride out a cold but never strep. Strep throat can be easily diagnosed with a simple throat culture, and promptly treated. It's worth finding out.

So do you get your kids strep tests every time they have a cold? I get soar throats a lot with colds and I certainly don’t go to the doctor much less get a strep test every time.

[Anonymous]

Strep doesn't have congestion. So for my kids, I wait 24 hours after the sore throat appears. If congestion hasn't followed by then, its not a cold and therefore strep. I have pretty good accuracy on this.

[Anonymous]

Google image is your friend on this one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far, never. Hot water with honey has always cleared up DD's sore throats.

Left untreated, strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Serious illnesses that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart can follow untreated strep. I would ride out a cold but never strep. Strep throat can be easily diagnosed with a simple throat culture, and promptly treated. It's worth finding out.

So do you get your kids strep tests every time they have a cold? I get soar throats a lot with colds and I certainly don’t go to the doctor much less get a strep test every time.

DP here. No, this is easy to distinguish. Strep doesn't include runny nose/congestion/cough. If any of those things are present its unlikely to be strep.

[Anonymous]

I have never taken them to the doctor for a sore throat and fever and was not aware this is normal behavior. My parents took my siblings to the doctor ALL. THE. TIME. for every minor thing and it was very disruptive to our lives to be hauled back and forth to the doctor. I always assumed my parents were abnormal in this regard, so I did not copy this behavior when I became a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far, never. Hot water with honey has always cleared up DD's sore throats.

Perhaps your daughter, sure. But I was one who had strep CONSTANTLY as a child and it was incredibly painful. It's highly contagious and I always managed to catch it. If my parents had always just given me hot water and honey, I would have been one hurting child.

I eventually had to get my tonsils out.

Yep I'm the hot water poster, and I also spent a couple of years passing strep back and forth with my sibling. But I was asked what I do, and I answered, you know?

But aren't you putting our kids at risk for infection by not testing your child and keeping her home for a period of time?

Um no, because she always gets over her sore throat after 2-3 days.

NP. Sure, you can clear the strep infection on your own. That's not why physicians prescribe a penicillin for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far, never. Hot water with honey has always cleared up DD's sore throats.

Left untreated, strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Serious illnesses that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart can follow untreated strep. I would ride out a cold but never strep. Strep throat can be easily diagnosed with a simple throat culture, and promptly treated. It's worth finding out.

So do you get your kids strep tests every time they have a cold? I get soar throats a lot with colds and I certainly don’t go to the doctor much less get a strep test every time.

DP. You need to read up on the Centor criteria.