Kid refuses strep test

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rapid strep tests often give false negatives. Doctors use their best judgment and prescribe antibiotics if they're pretty sure the symptoms match strep better than a viral infection. That negates the necessity for the strep test, IMO. I'd be up front with the doctor at the beginning of the appointment that the throat swab causes a severe reaction from my child, and we'll try to get it, but I won't physically force her mouth open to do it if it comes to that. I'd ask him to treat her the best way he knows how under those circumstances. A good pediatrician would be accommodating.

That is crazy. You are basically demanding drugs for your child without a proper diagnosis.

I disagree. If it were a foolproof test, it would be different. If the dr can see the tell tale signs of strep, he'd be silly not to give antibiotics if he got a false negative. If the symptoms are there, it's nbd. If the symptoms aren't pointing directly to strep, it's a different story. I'm still not sure I'd hold a 7yo down for that particular test. Mine hasn't balked at throat swabs though, so it's never come up before.

I've held her down for vaccinations and to take medicines with a dropper. When it's necessary, it's necessary. Maybe we define necessary differently. That's okay too

[Anonymous]

I forced my kids.

Threatened, not bribed.

Time them it wasn't a choice. It sucks but it would be quick. Offered to hold them for dr but didn't have to.

8 year old boy over quick. Fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I forced my kids.

Threatened, not bribed.

Time them it wasn't a choice. It sucks but it would be quick. Offered to hold them for dr but didn't have to.

8 year old boy over quick. Fine.

My son had no symptoms but fever and was positive for Strep."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forced my kids.

Threatened, not bribed.

Time them it wasn't a choice. It sucks but it would be quick. Offered to hold them for dr but didn't have to.

8 year old boy over quick. Fine.

My son had no symptoms but fever and was positive for Strep."

I know 6 people--in a 2 block radius from 47 to 5 that had strep this week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WWYD?

8 year old at doctor with a sore throat. All indications are she needs a strep test. They need to swab her throat.
My child HATES the throat swab and refused to cooperate. REFUSED. Clamped her mouth shut.

I'm all for my kids being masters of their own bodies but, at what point as a parent do you force them to do something like this?

So you aren't able to force, right? What are you going to do, sedate them or tie them down and somehow pry their jaws open? No. Not worth it, even if possible. We are talking strep here, not Ebola. You can presumptively treat, or chose not to and kid can weather it without antibiotics.

The other option, of course, is not to force but coerce. Bribery, threats, guilt tripping, the whole parental toolkit of coercion techniques. I assume, of course, that calm discussion of pros and cons and antibiotic resistance etc. was tried and didn't work!

I sincerely hope that when your kids have strep you don't let them "weather it out without antibiotics". Strep may be common but that doesn't mean that it isn't serious.

My stepsister ended up in the hospital for over a month when shr developed rheumatic fever due to untreated strep when she was 12. She very nearly died &, 15 years later, she still had heart problems as a result. All this could have been prevented had she been given antibiotics on time.

[Anonymous]

Newsflash! Lots of people weather strep without antibiotics. They don't realize thry have strep.

Sorry for your sister, but that is not a common outcome. Don't be a drama queen.

[Anonymous]

I have held my 5 year old son down twice in the past month for a strep test. I started with bribes and moved to threats and then just held him down. Now I threaten him with a really big shot since he doesn't like the taste of the antibiotics.

It does make a difference who does the test because the nurse at the Ped office did a super good job while the nurse at the minute clinic was worse. (both tests - non-rapid were positive he didn't get a strong enough antibiotic the first time and it came back)

Please do not ask your doctor for an antibiotic that isn't medically necessary. This article scared the crap out of me:

http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/05/the-ten-part-plan-to-avert-our-post-antibiotic-apocalypse/483360/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash! Lots of people weather strep without antibiotics. They don't realize thry have strep.

Sorry for your sister, but that is not a common outcome. Don't be a drama queen.

I actually know a few people who ended up with long-term complications from untreated strep. Whether this is common or not, why you take the risk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash! Lots of people weather strep without antibiotics. They don't realize they have strep.

Sorry for your sister, but that is not a common outcome. Don't be a drama queen.

Newsflash! You are obviously resorting to name calling because you hate that your ignorance on this topic was exposed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash! Lots of people weather strep without antibiotics. They don't realize they have strep.

Sorry for your sister, but that is not a common outcome. Don't be a drama queen.

Newsflash! You are obviously resorting to name calling because you hate that your ignorance on this topic was exposed.

[Anonymous]

I've known several people who have had scarlet fever and rheumatic fever. The latter was very serious for both of my friends who got it. It's no joke and causes long-term serious health issues in many who contract it. It can cause death.

Open the kid's damn mouth. What sort of entitled bullshit goes on where a kid thinks he gets to decide his health? He's 8, not 18.

[Anonymous]

My grandmother got strep in the days before antibiotics and it turned into rheumatic fever. She had heart problems for the rest of her life and it caused a series of mini-strokes that led to vascular dementia and a slow, agonizing 20-year cognitive and physical decline. We do not screw around with strep in our family.

[Anonymous]

You learn now that your kid will most definitely behave like this if the situation arises again, and you start prepping before the appointment. I have one who is miserable at the doctor's office, regardless of the scenario. If I ever think he will need a throat swab, I start my threatening as we're leaving the house. I make the consequence major (you know your kid- you have to pick what will work), and then inevitably I have to hold him down.

[Anonymous]

I would have told her right then and there open your mouth or I'm beating your ass when we get home. Then follow through

[Anonymous]

Normally I'd respect the kid's wishes. But strep can be very serious, and using antibiotics "just in case" is very dangerous these days (antibiotic-resistant super bugs). And that's assuming a pedi would do that.

However, most doctors would be understanding of this fear. Some let the kids do it themselves. I would, in the future, call the office and ask if there is a pedi or nurse there who is good with giving strep tests to fearful kids, and then go to that person.