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Re: Rapid Strep Tests/Clarification

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Sachs <>
To:  <>
Date: Saturday, February 17, 2001 10:45 PM
Subject: Re: Rapid Strep Tests/Clarification


BSN RN


Michael wrote...>
>How many offices do this, where a child comes simply for a strep test
>without being seen by a provider?  Seems like a potential medical-legal
>situation>>>>>


Well, there are several senerios where the child might be swabbed without me
seeing him.
1.  If the child has had back to back strep throats and I am checking for a
carrier state I will have them come if for a throat culture at the end of
meds.
2.  When I am telling parents that their child has strep and giving them
guidance I tell them that 1 out of 25 kids with strep will get it again
shortly after completing the treatment course but they are usually not as
sick the second go-round so if after treatment they start complaining of a
sore throat but are not sick they should come in for a swab only.  If they
are complaining of a sore throat and are sick I need to see them.
3.  Occasionally a parent will have a sore throat when I diagnose their
child with strep and I've swabbed them (at their request).  Of course, I
really have to "like-trust" the parent to do this.

Also, my nurses do the swabs.  I think they do a better job than I do.  They
know that the test result is as good as the swab.  Has anybody noticed that
more kids are coming in saying they don't want a swab instead of saying "I
don't want a shot"?
Regards-
Kim Burlingham, MD  Winnsboro, TX
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