Kid refuses strep test
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Anonymous
If you take the kid to the ER they will put them in a restraint to do the test if they won't allow it. So, you can give them the choice of getting it over with voluntarily or having the nurses put them in the restraint. |
Anonymous
It used to be very common for people to hospitalized because of complications from strep before antibiotics were in use. My FIL was hospitalized in intensive care for two months. Nowadays it's more likely to happen to a special needs person because they can't necessarily communicate to you how duck they feel. Strep literally knocks you over - you typically feel very sick and very tired and your throat hurts like hell. If you look in there you can usually see white pustules in the throat. It is not easy to miss in most cases. |
Anonymous
Lifelong heart problems from rheumatic fever is an awful thing too. |
Anonymous
Also, if your child is typically very fearful and uncooperative about medical procedures you can ask the doctor for a Valium prescription. Give them a dose a half hour before the appointment and it will probably all work out. Some children take one before going to the dentist. They usually grown out of the need for it. My son only needed one dose before he decided that he lived the dentist. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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My DH is a medical doctor. He said he’s had kids that just refuse. If they have the symptoms and the throat looks bad, he goes ahead and treats with antibiotics. No need to force a kid. Has kid stay home until no fever.
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Anonymous
Which is great until you have a kid like mine who refuses the antibiotics... |
Anonymous
DP There's always intramuscular penicillin injections. |
Anonymous
I think my post got eaten in the glitch last night. My mom is an old school nurse who doesn't play. She used to tell us we could swallow the antibiotics or have them delivered via a shot in the butt. |
Anonymous
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My post got eaten too. I wanted to clarify three things:
1. This is a thread from 2016, FYI. 2. In regards to a prior post, it is not true that if you got better without medication, then you didn't need it. The problem isn't that we cannot clear strep throat bacteria without antibiotics (often you can, though sometimes you cannot) -- it's that when you form the antibodies to fight off the bacteria, they can then unpredictably attack your own heart valve tissue in a delayed manner. Your being able to fight off the bacteria is actually the problem. 3. Unfortunately, the accuracy of strep throat swabs (both the rapid antigen test and the culture) is highly technique dependent. You have to touch the tonsils and surrounding tissue, and that triggers a gag reflex in most people. We are just designed that way. The nurse who didn't make the kid gag in a prior post may have made the experience more pleasant, but the test was probably compromised and virtually useless. |
Anonymous
| I was a sickly child and held down, threatened when I didn't want a shot or other scary medical procedure. I developed a phobia of doctors and hospitals. When I was of legal age I didn't go to a doctor for 22 years. I have a powerful gag reflex and the last two strep tests I had were awful. I will refuse any future ones. The doctor could give antibiotics if they are pretty sure the patient has strep throat without having to do a test. Dentists will prescribe antibiotics prior to oral surgery and if that surgery was cancelled no harm was done by taking said antibiotics. |
Anonymous
| All I know is that delayed treatment for a Strep throat infection caused a relative to lose both kidneys. Strep is serious, not minor. |
Anonymous
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You need to figure this out for the next time. Plan ahead.
My dd had major doctor/dentist anxiety and for the first 12 years of her life it was a lot of holding down and forcing. No amount of giving her time to breathe would help. She finally grew out of the refusal, but she still hates the whole process. But yeah you do what you have to. Hold the kid, hold their nose so they have to open the mouth. I’ve sat on my kid for a needed medical thing. You’re in charge. Believe it or not. |
Anonymous
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My kid tried to refuse at an urgent care despite bribes and threats from me. The doctor came in and said “either your mom can hold your head back for you to help you keep your mouth open or I can have 3 other the nurses come in and hold you down for it. This has to be done” that did the trick
I was not going to relent on this one - a neighbor had their son hospitalized for over a week for strep that turned into a blood and achielies infection |
Anonymous
| Larla this is serious. You need to have this test performed, it will only take a second. If not, you will not be able to watch tv, have any screens, or play with anyone until you do" |