Rapid strep tests are they acurate?

[CouponQueen23]

Last thursday ds#2 was running a low grade fever 101. I gave him motrin and kept watch of him. He told me his throat hurt he pinted to his adams apple and said right here. I told him it is a adams apple. I looked in there with a flash light looked a little red I thought probley post nasal drip, it is that time of year but you never know so much is going around. The weekend went by he acted perfectly fine, no complaints I even checked with him daily. Had him garrgle with diluted listerine same with ds #1 just a preventative measure, I think it helps when crap and crud is going around.
Any way monday he went to his afternoon pre k at the school and told his teacher he had a pine apple ** LOL** in his throat. I can't get over that, she must have thought it was really serious she called my home phone and my cell phone wanted my ok to have him seen at the schools dr's office. I said sure there is so much going around it is better to be safe. The schools Dr's office called me she thells me I *think* he has strep his throat is a little red I called a perscription in for him. I said ok you *think* he has strep, she said he has no fever but complaing of his throat and the rapid culture says possitive. So I am confused he is acting fine his throat looks fine strep you think of white patches( none). I am a mom who don't like pushing antiobotics unless they really need them. I called last evening to see if I could get him seen by his own Dr I just want to be sure that strep is really the culprit here. I have heard so many stories that the schools Dr office is so easy to push the pen to write scripts. I feel neglectful at this point I didn't run right to the pharmacy to get the script I am not convienced he has strep. My kids have cultures taken when there thraot has been totally white and nasty and they were fever for days the cultures came back negative and his throat appears to be normal and so does he. My own opinion is that it is post nasal running down in his throat.

I just want to see what any one else has experienced and what you would do in this case.

[Ggbwg]

If they are done too early it will miss the strep. Happened to us.

[shaeharbin]

Last weekend my 3 y.o. DD started vomiting. I thought it was probably just a 24 hour stomach bug. The next day she said her head and throat hurt a little. To be on the safe side I went ahead and carried her to the Dr. She had no fever, no white spots, nothing....They diagnosed her with Strep! So, maybe they are correct about your son. A second opinion won't hurt though, and you shouldn't feel neglectful you are just being a cautious mommy! Good Luck I hope his pineapple gets to feeling better:)

[bethanyam]

My personal opinion is that I would NOT give my child anything unless their Doctor, or a Doctor I choose if the regular dr is not available.
That's one thing I love about my dr is that she will not prescribe an antibiotic unless she KNOWS that they have something that needs one.
My kid's schools have nurses, I'm not sure I would like have a Doctor at their schools. I worked hard picking my pediatrician and I don't want just anyone treating my kids, and I would be uncomfortable with a teacher being able to send my child to the dr. whenever "they" saw fit.
Like I said though, that's just my opinion. :)
Good luck.

[SyLph211]

No they are not acurate enough. You need to have it grown to get a actual postive/negative. Strep is nasty in young children and sometimes will only produce a red throat and a fever. I would check with your normal doctor and see what they say, I would not give antibotics unless your normal doctor prescribed them. Not all illnesses require it and giving it at the first sign of nothing will make the kid immune to it. Please see your childs reg. doctor for a throat culture if they think it is strep. better safe than sorry!

[Nice1704]

Most doctors usually just go by the rapid strep test that they do in their office.......if it's positive they prescribe antibiotics. So, if the nurse did a rapid strep test and it was positive, he probably has strep. Going to the doctor would be pointless since they would just repeat what the school nurse did, but of course your doc would check for other symptoms/illnesses, not just strep, so that's a plus.

I think the rapid strep test is pretty reliable...if he had tested negative and still complained of throat pain etc. I would say the test was not correct (done too early so not enough of the bacteria or other reasons) but in this case, it was positive.
JMO

[momabrown3]

When my dd had the rapid test done ,it come back neg.They also did the 12 hour lab test it come back positive.You can test to early.

[SyLph211]

Originally Posted by momabrown3 When my dd had the rapid test done ,it come back neg.They also did the 12 hour lab test it come back positive.You can test to early.

I agree with this. My son has been misdiagnosed 3 times by the rapid test. It always was a lab test that showed he actually had it. I know now to just ask for a lab culture before as I willnot give my kids medicine just because.

Hope your son feels better soon OP.

[CouponQueen23]

He has been totally him self. I kept him home yesterday and he will be home today (hoilday) he has been eatting drinking (oj) of all things one of the many that they will not touch when they have a sore throat. I have yet to get him in at his regualr Dr's They seem to be over whelmed with potential swine flu patients. I may be crazy but when I do take him in I want to take him in a space suit and have gloves on his hands. I don't want him to catch something else going to the Dr.'s. Everyone thats here are feeling good, I am happy they are home today looks like it is going to be a beautiful day out. We are going to get out to get some fresh air today.