Please post your unusual pediatric presentations of strep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD2's first (and sometimes only) symptom of strep when she was little was OCD symptoms. Doctors did not believe me and thought I was crazy when I pressed for a strep test, but that was the issue.

Test for a carrier in the family. DD2's strep went away when DD1 was tested and treated (and eventually had her tonsils removed). When I was a kid, my stepfather was an asymptomatic carrier and the source of my reinfections. I also had my tonsils removed.

This is fascinating to me, as I has strep often as a kid / teen and had OCD symptoms I "grew out of." What is the link, and how did you know to test for strep?

[Anonymous]

I am the OP of the other recurrent strep post. While my DD has always eventually gotten a classic sore throat, her first symptoms (like 48 hours before the sore throat kicked in) were a mysterious full body rash one time like another PP mentioned, and stomach issues (mostly complaining or pain and diarrhea vs vomiting).

This last time she had an eczema break out about 3 days before she started feeling sick, wonder if it’s related.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks again. DS’s tonsils look perfect, no rashes, no psychiatric symptoms. It’s just so strange that the only symptom is this significant salivary gland/lymph swelling. Some doctors are saying this just doesn’t look like strep alone; others are saying there is no playbook for strep anymore!

I’m worried that course after course of antibiotics isn’t handling recurrence because something else is at play.

[Anonymous]

Check out this article (gift link, hope it works) about a family that kept getting strep—after much pushing they figured out their cat was a carrier and kept reinfecting the family.
https://wapo.st/49TFIA7

[Anonymous]

My child presented with strep with an extreme change in behavior. No sickness. Daycare teachers would say they were out of control and completely different than normal. Each time they were diagnosed with strep 48 hours later. Once on meds they went back to their mellow personality.

[Anonymous]

High fever and vomiting. No sore throat, but rapid test was positive.

[Anonymous]

Well, my son was sent home this morning. He was fine, dancing, and then all of a sudden, puked on floor and had a high fever. It's strep. What is up with this weird strain, or has strep always been like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD2's first (and sometimes only) symptom of strep when she was little was OCD symptoms. Doctors did not believe me and thought I was crazy when I pressed for a strep test, but that was the issue.

Test for a carrier in the family. DD2's strep went away when DD1 was tested and treated (and eventually had her tonsils removed). When I was a kid, my stepfather was an asymptomatic carrier and the source of my reinfections. I also had my tonsils removed.

This is fascinating to me, as I has strep often as a kid / teen and had OCD symptoms I "grew out of." What is the link, and how did you know to test for strep?

Look up PANDAS

[Anonymous]

Are they sure he’s not just a strep carrier and this is something else going on? Ie, when he is fine does he also test positive for strep, or no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friends boy currently just had a full body rash. No fever or sore throat. Positive for strep.

+1 Full body rash. Every time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS7 has an apparently very atypical recurrent presentation of Strep A: his salivary glands swell excessively on both sides. No sore throat, fever, tonsil changes or anything else that "says" strep—except positive swabs. Antibiotics fix it but then it starts again in a few weeks.

Doctors seem at a loss as to how to stop the recurrence and surprised by the symptoms. Either it's just an unusual presentation or there's an unknown secondary infection/organism that is cooccurring with the strep. We know it's not mumps, mono or typical viruses.

Has anyone BTDT? Was it just Strep A? Did you eventually find an antibiotic that stopped it? Thanks so much.

This sounds crazy, but do you have a dog? When I was a child, I had numerous recurrences of strep and finally my pediatrician asked my mom if we had a dog. They are carriers. Sure enough - treated our dog, and I never got strep again.

[Anonymous]

Both my boys (twins) would present normally with sore throat. However, a few times between the ages of maybe 5-8 they had dried yellowish crust in underwear. Took them to doctor and she showed me rashes inside their butt cheeks (way up in there lol) that had oozed. She swabbed and it was positive for strep. No other symptoms!

[Anonymous]

Are you throwing out toothbrushes after 24 hours of antibiotics? I had recurrent strep (it returned 3 times as soon as I finished antibiotics) a few years back. Finally scrubbed my night guard with antibacterial soap and it didn’t return so I assume that was what was reinfecting me. Or not…who knows.

My kids get strep not infrequently. My older one has even had it after having her tonsils removed. When she was younger it would present as radiating pain around her belly button. The first time I didn’t know that and it became full blown / sore throat strep. The next time she was fine except for a “painful belly button” I took her in. The doctor was skeptical but sure enough. After that 3 of the 4 times she had belly pain it was strep.

[Anonymous]

Stomachaches and fever. Also infected his finger (nail biter) and it was swollen and oozing

[Anonymous]

Just a headache with no fever or throat ache. Dr didn't even think it looked too red inside his throat. Tested positive for strep.