Strep throat?

[ElizK]

DD9 has had a sore throat for a couple of days, slightly stuffy head, no fever. I looked in her throat tonight... she has a pocket of white on one tonsil. The back of her throat is red with a couple of blister-looking things.

Does this sound like the beginning of strep? She used to get it all the time, but hasn't had it in at least two years. I can't remember if this is how it looked. I do remember the fevers she'd get a couple days after complaining of a sore throat when it was strep.

Just sent her to bed with a Benadryl and an Advil.

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

Poor DD!

It does sound like strep. The white spots/blisters are what sound like a dead ringer.

Strep can present itself in many different ways with various symptoms. I never run a fever with it, but feel like death and can't speak a word. My DD4 gets an upset tummy every single time. Her pediatrician says that is not uncommon. Who knew?

If I were you I'd take her in for a Dr. visit in the am for a culture. If it is strep, the good thing is it does clear up rather quickly with antibiotics.

Strep or not, I hope she feels much better!!

 

[ElizK]

~* sigh *~

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks.

 

[Alice28]

Sounds like strep to me...we just went thru two rounds of it in my house...first both boys....then their penicillan didn't quite work so they got it again...got put on Augmentin and then I got it. We're finishing up our meds tomorrow. I didn't get a fever but the boys did...one boy was sick to his stomach & got that strep rash over his belly. We all had very large tonsils and a few white patches.

 

[MScott1851]

Strep? Yep, sounds like it.

Word of advice: If your child is not allergic to Penicillin, choose a Bicillin shot over oral meds. It is one time, and she will get quicker better. It sucks to try and get medicine down a sore throat three times a day for ten days!

Good luck.

 

[maps]

FYI--those shots HURT! There are lots of ways to get meds down a sore throat that hurts a lot less than those shots. If she does have strep, 24 hrs of the oral antibiotics will alleviate the majority of the discomfort.

I've had several kids come in for shots b/c the parents say they can't get the kids to take their meds. They end up having a traumatic visit at the doctor's office with a lot of screaming and then guess what happens the next time you have to bring the kids back to the doctor?

 

[ElizK]

Wait... it just got better.... now DD12 is complaining, too!!! ACK!!!

Her throat actually looks worse than DD9's!!


DD12 chose the shot last time she had strep. Her choice. I actually think she would choose it again. DD9 on the other hand....

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Another advocate of the shot here.

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

Originally posted by ElizK
Wait... it just got better.... now DD12 is complaining, too!!! ACK!!!

Her throat actually looks worse than DD9's!!


DD12 chose the shot last time she had strep. Her choice. I actually think she would choose it again. DD9 on the other hand....

Did you take DD to the Dr. today and find out if it was strep?

I feel for you if both DD have it - and for them too. It is misserable I know. Pixie dust coming your way.

 

[ElizK]

No, we didn't go to the dr yet. They don't usually want to see the patient unless the problem has been going on for more than just a couple of days, or if they have a fever.

DD9 hasn't complained since this morning. DD12... well, we'll see how she's doing in the morning. Still no fever. She was crying about a headache and feeling bad earlier. She's something of a complainer (drama queen) anyway, but doesn't cry usually.

 

[KathiWithAnI]

got that strep rash over his belly

I'm not familiar with this rash. One of my boys has had a sore throat for a couple of days but none of the 'white' stuff in his throat ( that I'm used to with strep), so I really thought it was a cold/sinus related thing. But last night he got a rash on his neck and shoulders that is very tiny red bumps and he says it's itchy... his belly feels rough, but no real color to the bumps???

Thanks for the info...
Kathi

 

[SnowAngel]

My dd1 and I both have it right now too.

We both have been running fevers and feeling horrible. The doctor says the strawberry tounge is usually a dead give away.

 

[MerryPoppins]

DD used to get Strep a lot. She'd get the white spots in her throat, but her first test always came back that she didn't have it. Then she'd end up with the fine red rash, so they'd test again. Poor kid would be really sick!

I suggest getting them to the doctor ASAP. Strep can be bad if you let it go. Also, a few days into the medication - change toothbrushes. My doctor said you can reinfect yourself if you continue to use the same toothbrush. Who knew?

 

[browneyes]

It could be strep or tonsilitis.

The way I can tell my kids have strep is they complain of a sore throat, have red striated areas in the roof of their mouth, sometimes they have the white pockets, but not always, complain of a headache or pain behind their eyes, and a sweetness to their breath. Their veins turn colors too.

My ds (he's 8 yo) had strep 3 weeks ago (he was on Amoxycillian then for it, Amoxycillian does nothing for my ds when he has strep, but his dad took him to the dr and he forgot to request another antibiotic). I took him to the dr on Monday for what I thought was poison oak, but turned out to be not only poison oak, but scarlet fever too (just found out it's a bad form of strep). He had no regular symptoms for strep. No fever, no sore throat or anything. His rash is pretty severe.

I hope your dd gets to feeling better. I hope you can get her to the dr soon to get to feeling better.

 

[MScott1851]

FYI--those shots HURT! There are lots of ways to get meds down a sore throat that hurts a lot less than those shots. If she does have strep, 24 hrs of the oral antibiotics will alleviate the majority of the discomfort.

Yes, I'm well aware that those shots do smart a bit, I used to have to get them about twice a year because I was a strep magnet, and now I give them to children and adults where I work. I always felt so much better the next day if I got the shot. I'm a big advocate of involving the parents with positioning, holding and comforting the child during the shot and rewarding after the injection.

Most parents would rather their child be feeling better within 12-24 hours in exchange for a little temporary discomfort than deal with a sick child for a week. Most of the Peds I work with also state Bicillin is more effective than the oral antibiotics that the children have probably taken many times before for URI's and ear infections.

JMHO, of course....but if I got strep I would want the injection, and if I ever have little strep magnets of my own, I will ask for it, too.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My DD8 always gets the shot. The turn around time for her starting to feel better is miraculous. Once it only took 4 hours to tell that she was feeling much better.

I've had the shot once and I agree it does hurt. I feel the few moments of discomfort are worth it.

Lori

 

[laurie31]

Originally posted by KathiWithAnI
I'm not familiar with this rash. One of my boys has had a sore throat for a couple of days but none of the 'white' stuff in his throat ( that I'm used to with strep), so I really thought it was a cold/sinus related thing. But last night he got a rash on his neck and shoulders that is very tiny red bumps and he says it's itchy... his belly feels rough, but no real color to the bumps???

Thanks for the info...
Kathi

A rash that feel like sandpaper (for want of a better description) is almost diagnositc for strep. In fact, if you want to get your kids seen asap, just call your ped. and say your child has a sore throat, fever, and a rash on his stomach that feels like sandpaper, and voila - an appointment! (of course, only say that if it's true ) And untreated strep can lead to lots of not nice things, like rheumatic fever and kidney disease, so if in doubt, find out!

And if you can stand one more opinion about the shot - I remember getting it when I had strep when I was in 2nd grade. I still was sick as a dog for 4 days, but my leg hurt so badly I had to use crutches It wasn't just typical "soreness" like after a flu shot or tetanus booster, it was horrible! I couldn't put any weight on my leg at all - for 2 days! Obviously it does't affect everyone like that, but I'd never put my kids through that if it weren't absolutely necessary. Both my girls had strep two weeks ago, and they did very well with the oral antibiotics. DD1 is allergic to Amoxil so she got an antibiotic that's only once a day. DD2 got Amoxil, but the dosing is now twice a day instead of 3 times a day. Not bad at all.

I hope everyone's sick children are feeling better soon!

Laurie

 

[KathiWithAnI]

laurei31, thank you-- I'm afradi that may be exactly what he has then.... darn! And yep, I know it needs to be treated ASAP
His syptoms are just so different from what I'm used ( if that is what he has and I'm thinking now it is)......
Thanks all for the words of wisdom!~
Kathi

 

[QuiltTeddy]

That's what I have right now. Just got back from the doctor (second trip in 8 days).

 

[MScott1851]

And also remember not every child will get all the symptoms. My brother is a classic strep child... Rash, pus in throat, whole nine yards. I, on the other hand, always started out with a blinding headache, projectile vomiting, and high fever...then the sore throat. Never a rash. I've heard little patients say, "my bones hurt inside" because they hurt like Laurie31 did, too.

But others would amaze me. I would look in their throats and see what looked like a science experiment growing in there, and the kid would be sitting there eating cheetoes and playing. I guess I just associated strep with lying on the couch with a puke bowl beside me, crawling to the bathroom because I was too dizzy and my head hurt too much to stand up.

Poor baby. I hope she gets treated and well soon!