Perianal streptococcal - anyone have any experience?

[MarionCole]

DS has had a rash around his anus for about 6 months, doctors have supplied a variety of antifungal creams which don't work. We currently have a steroid cream which stops the redness but as soon as I stop using it the rash comes back. Doctor has told me to just keep on using it, despite my concerns that it is just treating the symptoms rather than the cause.

Anyway, 2 minutes googling has revealed streptococcal, there are a few pictures on line which look exactly like DS's rash and the symptoms seem right.

So, before I march into the doctors with a print out, do you know anything about this infection which might mean DS doesn't have it?

Well I am a GP and had never heard of it .

I have googled it just now and I would think if the rash looks like the pictures, sounds like the pictures and has failed to respond to treatment then it is a very reasonable differential diagnosis.

In short, if you were to come in to my consulting room brandishing the printout I would probably be happy that you had done so as it is easy to treat and will hopefully mean your DS gets better quickly.

Thanks Chewy, that's reassuring. I don't want to upset our GP (who DS loves because she's the mother of one of his friends!) with overly PFB behaviour and I don't want her to think I'm telling her how to do her job. The internet must be the bane of a GP's life.

No, I love it!

It is great to be able to confirm niggling suspicions and vague memories on unusual conditions. Sometimes I advise patients look something up in their own time to supplement what I have told them or get support.

I sure your GP will be absolutely fine with it.