Hi All,
My 6 year old was recently diagnosed strep in his anus. It showed itself through itchy spots that started in the region of his bottom and spread to other places like his legs and hands. It took awhile to diagnose him because he was on an antibiotic soon after this started for something else but the antibiotic didn't work to get rid of the spots. Finally, he tested positive with strep and the doctors gave him a really strong antibiotic which seemed to cure him. Then his 3 year old brother started itching too and I took him quickly to the doctor and discovered the same diagnosis. He is currently on a strong antibiotic too. But now, after about 2 weeks of being off the antibiotic my oldest has the spots again! This is so frustrating. Any advice or thoughts from your experience would be helpful! Thanks!
didn't fully cure him. Needs to be on antibiotics for a longer period of time.
make sure they have some yogurt while on it as well.
Hi R.,
Contact your local Health Department Communicable Disease section and see what they suggest to find out how to handle your situation.
Hope this helps. Good luck. D.
Get another opinion. See other doctors, ie. pediatric dermatologist, specialists, etc. Also, ask if there is another protocol for strep if it reoccurs. And protocol for sanitizing kids' rooms to avoid recontamination and passing back and forth. FYI I love Clorox wipes and keep them throughout the house. I also have everyone wash their hands when coming into the house and throughout the day when kids are sick. Germs, especially with kids spread quickly. Good luck!
The only thing that has helped us is keeping my son's nails short. Making sure he washes his hands after going bathroom and before eating a meal. Wipe everything in is room down-everything.
Wash his sheets in hot water and do not let them share anything.
Good luck
Along with the suggestions about sanitizing things around the house and car, be sure to disenfect toys, books computer games as well.
Make certain you use bleach when cleaning sheets, towels, etc. Add a small amount of bleach to the dispenser and then flush it with a lot of water and let the washer agitate before adding colored towels,sheets,clothes,etc. As for the boys, use a small hand brush on their nails when they wash. Often thats how the germs spread in the first place.
When a severe case of strep occurs as it seems, I do agree that the natural flora needs to be replentished. How ever, regular yogurt isn't enough, at least for immediate results. Most yogurts have a moderate to high sugar content (aproximately 24-26 grams)which feeds infection. Probiotic Acidophilus is actually better for the boys and even your entire family on a regular basis as a preventive. Most yogurts will say they contain live active cultures, but don't tell you how many parts per billion. Stonyfield Farms yogurt contains about 6 billion live active cultures and 24 grams of sugar(better than other brands), where as Probiotic Acidophilus contains over 20 billion active cultures and 6 grams of sugar. They all contain sugar unless you make your own and sweeten it with Stevia or Truvia a less sweet form of Stevia, and vanilla. I reccomend either of those sweeteners as a sugar substitute. They are better and safer than Equal or any other sugar substitute on the market.
I will pray for you and your family to get well soon.
Sounds like you need to have both boys on the antibiotics at the same time; they might just be passing it back & forth. Watch that you & your husband don't pick it up, too. Best of luck.
R.
It seems as if they are spreading it back and forth. I would was all linens in HOT water. Don't let them share anything that touches their body - towels, wash cloths, blankets, sheets, etc. I might even go to the extreme of once a towel or cloth is used by them even once to put it in the hamper so nobody reuses it. Also, call the doctor on Monday and get further suggestions from them. I know how hard it is to make sure they wash their hands frequently. Maybe you could have hand sanitizer out as well and encourage them to use that too. My biggest concern would be that it isn't ordinary strep but MRSA. Recheck all the bases with the doctor.
Ask the doctor to put them both on the antibiotic together - at the same time. People can be contagious for up to 3-4 weeks without treatment, so they may be re infecting each other. Also, recommend anyone they play with, etc. to be tested - they could also be carriers.
