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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

I would take him today with the weekend coming up. FYI, you can buy at home strep tests on amazon. I have them. If you get a positive you still need to go to the DR to get meds, but at least you can find something out at home.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I do it very quickly! My kids had strep 3-4 times last spring/summer and sometimes without a significant fever. I have also been diagnosed with acute rheumatic disease due to strep, so it is a more serious situation in our house.

[Anonymous]

With 103 fever, I would test. I also had strep constantly as a kid (removing my tonsils was discussed but never quite got to that point) and a fever that high was a tell-tale sign.

[Anonymous]

Under your circumstances, of course. DH had strep, you know your kid is susceptible due to prior history. IME, kids who have strep get strep more than once.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

In My experience fever plus no cold symptoms and no vomiting has often meant strep if it persists more than 24 hours.

[Anonymous]

I can only recall two occasions when any of my three kids had a strep test--none have ever had it.

[Anonymous]

When my child has a fever I call the doctor and they usually ask me to bring him in. They decide if he needs a strep test. Usually they look in his mouth and if it looks red in his throat, they test. I actually love the pediatrician because they will let us come in as soon as I call 99% of the time. I don't like to take chances of waiting out illnesses with my ds, but he already has a medical condition, so that could be why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Under your circumstances, of course. DH had strep, you know your kid is susceptible due to prior history. IME, kids who have strep get strep more than once.

Yes. This plus fever means test. For sure.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would take him today with the weekend coming up. FYI, you can buy at home strep tests on amazon. I have them. If you get a positive you still need to go to the DR to get meds, but at least you can find something out at home.

Wait- what? Home strep test? That's genius! My daughter gets strep all the time with no fever. I'll have to check this out. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would definitely get a test.