Strep Throat...Exposure, should I do something?
Options
Indigoblue
Member Posts: 274
Teacher husband has been ill, not certain when it started.
Had an ear infection, started teaching...was sick but not really; then went to his family's for the labor day weekend, and I talked him into going to a Urgent Care Center, who diagnosed him with Strep Infections...
Lovely. He exposed his mother (cancer and diabetes), me, and who knows without ever knowing he was sick.
Is there anything I can do to prevent occurance? Or to tell his mother? Darn it, I knew he was sicker that he was willing to admit and as most men will always deny, "I'm not sick, don't need a doctor..."
Well, my house is a mess, I am a mess, and he is back, thank goodness. He's on antibiotics, and taking a few days off so he won't infect the kids at school...meanwhile I think I'm feeling a cold coming on and I still have my tonsiles. Apparantly, Rheumatic Fever, Scarlet Fever, and all kinds of organisisms will attack one whose immune system is compromised.
I plan to call the doctor tomorrow, but though someone might have suggestions...the docs have a way of always making me feel like I am overdoing the immunity weakness after cancer, chemo, rads, and anemia, not to mention the crap we don't know about.
Thanks for any insights...outsights, or otherwise.
Not well, not good, not happy.
Indi
Had an ear infection, started teaching...was sick but not really; then went to his family's for the labor day weekend, and I talked him into going to a Urgent Care Center, who diagnosed him with Strep Infections...
Lovely. He exposed his mother (cancer and diabetes), me, and who knows without ever knowing he was sick.
Is there anything I can do to prevent occurance? Or to tell his mother? Darn it, I knew he was sicker that he was willing to admit and as most men will always deny, "I'm not sick, don't need a doctor..."
Well, my house is a mess, I am a mess, and he is back, thank goodness. He's on antibiotics, and taking a few days off so he won't infect the kids at school...meanwhile I think I'm feeling a cold coming on and I still have my tonsiles. Apparantly, Rheumatic Fever, Scarlet Fever, and all kinds of organisisms will attack one whose immune system is compromised.
I plan to call the doctor tomorrow, but though someone might have suggestions...the docs have a way of always making me feel like I am overdoing the immunity weakness after cancer, chemo, rads, and anemia, not to mention the crap we don't know about.
Thanks for any insights...outsights, or otherwise.
Not well, not good, not happy.
Indi
Comments
-
Hi,
I've been on chemo weekly for 16mths. for a recurrence and caught strep from my daughter this past winter. I had a WICKED sore throat and ran a fever. I went and had the strep test at a walk-in clinic on a Saturday. They checked my counts first(not sure if it would matter if I had low white/red) and put me on antibiotics. I can't remember for how long. Maybe 10 days. They gave me a paper showing that I had come in there and I had to give it to my Onc.
Kim -
Forgot to add that if it is strep, make sure you throw out your toothbrush after you have completed 24hrs. of antibiotic. I forgot to do that with my daughter and she got it right back after she finished her 14days of antibiotics!!!!
Kim -
This source claims that after 24 h of being on an effective antibiotic, you should not be able to transmit the infection.
"Transmission of strep throat
You can get strep throat and other group A strep infections by direct contact with saliva or nasal discharge from an infected person. Most people do not get group A strep infections from casual contact with others, but a crowded environment like a dormitory, school, or an institutional setting such as a nursing home can make it easier for the bacteria to spread. There have also been reports of contaminated food, especially milk and milk products, causing infection. You can get sick within 3 days after being exposed to the germ. Once infected, you can pass the infection to others for up to 2 to 3 weeks even if you don't have symptoms. After 24 hours of antibiotic treatment, you will no longer spread the germs to others."
"If you have a strep infection, your health care provider will prescribe an antibiotic. This will help reduce symptoms, and after 24 hours of taking the medicine, you will no longer be able to spread the infection to others. Treatment will also reduce the chance of complications.
Health experts think penicillin is the best medicine for treating strep throat because it has been proven to be effective, safe, and inexpensive. Your health care provider may have you take pills for 10 days or give you a shot. If you are allergic to penicillin there are other antibiotics your health care provider can give you to clear up the illness.
During treatment, you may start to feel better within 4 days. This can happen even without treatment. Still, it is very important to finish all your medicine to prevent complications. " http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/strep.htm (this website is dated 2005.) -
Thanks so much for your replies. Very helpful information, and Leaf, that's a great site. Also has some addition sites for Diabetics listed there (very worried about MIL).
Had no idea cellulitis is a Strep A nor that Strep Infections can cause lymphedema...and a lot of other horrible diseases. With weakened immune systems I think everyone should read this...and wear gloves, use antibacterial gel, wash hands frequently, and avoid public places at least until blood tests are showing good results.
Yikes...
thanks and ((hugs))
Indi -
Hope your DH gets better soon, and no one else gets it.
Cellulitis just means your skin/soft tissue is infected - it does not specify what organism is doing the infecting.
Some common causes of cellulitis include Strep group A and other groups, the notorious Staphlococcus aureus (which is getting more and more resistant to even really expensive antibiotics that work less and less well), etc.
Get better soon. -
Read in the local news today that schools are closing, hospitals on a "watch", and to be aware of any or all symptoms for STAPH Infections of the skin.
What's a poor girl to do? What and how does one avoid this stuff?
Yikes!
Indi
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team