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Anyone know anything about Strep B and fanjo problems in young children?

15 replies

CarGirl · 18/06/2008 18:22

Brief history

DD 2.10 has been treated for recurrent thrush for about the last year, canestan never really helped only times it seemed to clear up was once she was given antibiotics but the thrush spots seemed infected and the times they gave us canestan HC but as soon as we stopped it came back again. I was told potty train her it will help so I did, it didn't. I was told that it just one of those things.

They did a swab, heard nothing back but on returning to the drs again a few months later it turned out that the swab hadn't got processed but no-on had told me sent off another swab she has strep B they gave a course of anitbiotics (penicillan?). She ws also treated for e-coli in her urine a week or so later. A week after that again she had a discharge and sore swollen bits again. They took another swab. A week later we saw a UTI specialist, they established she doesn't have UTI problem but the 2nd swab showed that she still had strep B and again no thrush, and that she has psorasis or some other dermatological issue. She is now on a 3 week course of co-amoxiclav.

Everything I have found on the internet says that people carry strep B without it causing them issues. I just don't know what to do think worry or not - this has been going on for a year and the internet seems to suggest that oral antibiotics rarely get rid of strep B. No idea how long until we see the demertalogist but could this skin thing be allowing the strep B to cause a problem?

Any help/advice I would be most grateful.

Obviously it isn't a STD but is there anything else that could have been missed, should be ruled out etc?

OP posts:
CarGirl · 18/06/2008 19:08

bump

OP posts:
CarGirl · 18/06/2008 22:37

anyone?????

OP posts:
mears · 18/06/2008 22:45

I do not think that group B strep is an issue in itself. The antibiotic therapy though will not help the thrush issue - it encourages more thrush. Group B strep tends to be an incidental finding which usually does not need treating.

Have you tried giving Actimel to her when on antibiotics? That can help body fight thrush. Also make sure you do not bubble bath when bathing her. She needs cotton underwear too.

Hope it all egts sorted soon.

CarGirl · 18/06/2008 22:48

I haven't made it clear it turns out that it is highly unlikely that she has ever had thrush and that it has been the strep B or something else the whole time. Neither of the swabs tested positive for thrush even though both times the GP was 100% positive that it was thrush by looking at it, type of discharge etc.

OP posts:
mears · 18/06/2008 22:50

I see. Still think group B strep is a red herring. Do you use any products in her bath? My DD had a horrible discharge at that age which got better when I stopped bubble bath

CarGirl · 18/06/2008 22:52

No bubble ever, simple soap, cleaned her with water when she was in nappies. Someone has told me strep b can be linked to cellulitis but google now on a go slow....

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3littlefrogs · 18/06/2008 22:53

Presumably they have checked very carefully that she hasn't pushed something in there? It should be one of the first things that the doctor asks/checks for, but worth asking anyway.

CarGirl · 18/06/2008 22:59

have found a photo of vaginal cellulitis for a 6 year old who had been suffering for 4 weeks, well it looks like that but far worse my friend mentioned this evening as cellulitis can need IV antibiotics to get on top of it, oral antibiotics rarely work to get rid of strep B long term.

I'm feeling really p'eed off about the GP now

OP posts:
mears · 18/06/2008 23:58

Wouldn't even use soap to be honest. Water only in bath. Remember the dangers of 'googling'

CarGirl · 19/06/2008 17:23

They have a bath once or twice a week max and I only use soap on the bits that need it - usually their feet?

I'm just frustrated they kept insisting it was thrush even though it never seemed to respond to canestan - she's been in pain and discomfort for a year. sometimes she's scratched until she's pouring with blood etc etc

Not to mention the early potty training stress for nothing - argh!

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tazmosis · 19/06/2008 21:36

My dd1 had the similar symptoms (itching, redness and discharge)and she suffers from eczema - doc said it was the eczema (after a swab showed up no infection) and he then prescribed a emollient for the bath and that helped but she still had eczema generally. So, I went to see a kinesiologist and she told me to take her off white wheat (she can have wholemeal wheat) and dairy and give her a pro biotic and some other herbal supplements. Within a few weeks her eczema had completely gone including her itchy sore vagina. Might be worth a try - all those anti biotics will ultimately make any skin problems worse as they mess up the balance in the gut.

tazmosis · 19/06/2008 21:36

My dd1 had the similar symptoms (itching, redness and discharge)and she suffers from eczema - doc said it was the eczema (after a swab showed up no infection) and he then prescribed a emollient for the bath and that helped but she still had eczema generally. So, I went to see a kinesiologist and she told me to take her off white wheat (she can have wholemeal wheat) and dairy and give her a pro biotic and some other herbal supplements. Within a few weeks her eczema had completely gone including her itchy sore vagina. Might be worth a try - all those anti biotics will ultimately make any skin problems worse as they mess up the balance in the gut.

slim22 · 19/06/2008 21:51

try boosting her immune system with probiotics and fish oils which are also excellent in the long term to prevent eczema/psoriasis.
Ask pharmacist if echinacea i OK for children.

No soap
cotton underwear.
Wash with fresh water morning and evening.

Agree enough with the antibios as they do not work anyway.

CarGirl · 19/06/2008 22:10

Well she now has chicken pox!!! Once she's recovered I shall go down the probiotic route. I already do the cotton underwear, no chemicals near her etc etc Just so disheartened that there is little they can do to help when the strep B flares up

OP posts:
slim22 · 20/06/2008 01:56

poor thing!

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