Nurses General Nursing
Published Sep 28, 2003
Jolie, BSN
6,375 Posts
Let me preface this by saying that I will call my doctor in the morning! I'm just curious what you think about this.
I've had a low-grade temp (100.3) for the last 24 hours, along with a scratchy throat. Not reddened or painful, just slightly irritated. No obvious lymph node enlargement. But I do have a large white patch on one tonsil. And my daughter's teacher has already been out sick with strep.
Do you think it's strep or not?
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
whats your throat LOOK like?
get a culture.
good luck.
Nurse Ratched, RN
2,149 Posts
Unfortunately, viruses can also cause the white patches, so maybe, maybe not. If you're really interested, you can ask your doc/NP/PA for a rapid strep test, or the more accurate strep culture (which will take 24-48 hours to get back.)
So many of our patients come in with a sore throat and call it strep - I think it's become sort of a generic name for any sore throat. I was absolutely amazed when I started working in office nursing how much stuff can cause a sore throat, complete with white stuff.
I hope you are better soon!
gypsyatheart
705 Posts
Working PRN in Peds the last several rears (L&D being my full-time job), we use this protocol:
*temp over 100.5 x 72 hrs
*sore throat
OR
*sore throat persisting longer than 5 days
*sore throat preventing/difficulty w/ fluid intake
These folks get a throat cx and we only tx when positive.
Anyone presenting w/trilogy: sore throat, temp(>100.5), and rash gets seen, usually tx'd, while waiting for cx results.
I can tell you *usually* strep makes you really sick, of course, there's always someone who's a carrier or doesn't follow the *normal* strep stereotype, but typically, very sick.
It's amazing but the majority of the cx (50-60%) come back negative...viruses can mimic the strep bacteria, but w/virus the temp *usually* doesn't persist for >72hrs.
Anyway, hope you feel better. :)