I just had a high school student come to my office with a sore throat. "I think I might have strep". I ask "What makes you think that? Do you have a family member with strep? Or a significant other with strep?" Nope. "My throat hurts and there's white patches." Symptoms have been going on for 2 days.
I assess. No fever. Tonsils are red and swollen, maybe 2+. I see a large white patch on her right tonsil that looks almost like a throat stone to me. I explain to student that not all white patches mean strep, and not all strep has white patches. I call home, explain what I am seeing to mom. Mom says, sure, medicate student, does she want to go home? I ask student, she says no- I'm good to stay. I'm fine with student staying or going home. She's afebrile, I don't send every sore throat home unless they really feel or look rotten, or they have a fever.
Twenty minutes later, student returns to my office with her jacket and backpack. "I have showed my throat to all of my teachers and they think I should get it checked out."
I have no problem with the student wanting to go home- I would have dismissed her after the first conversation with mom had that been the decision that mom and her and I made.
I would like to thank the student for showing her sore throat to her teachers. I also SO appreciate the teachers advising this student on the treatment of her sore throat, especially AFTER I evaluated it and made a clinical decision with mom and student's input.
I called dad (he was home, mom was at work) and sent student home. Sigh.
