Throat Swab Procedures

[anonymous]

Yesterday Archie went for his check up and I asked about when a throat swab will be done. The doc said he only does them if Archie appears to have a cough or is unwell. I explained that other infants have been detected to have pseudo's even without presenting any symptoms and he said that could not be??? He listened to Archie's lungs and all is clear there but I am concerned that he does not do a thorough enough check on him. Do you think I should push for this procedure to be done or listen to my doctor? Archie is doing great at the moment - above 50% for weight and height so maybe thats why he isn't doing further checks on him? What do you all think??

Salli
Mum to Archie 9mths w/cf

 

[dyza]

hi Salli,

our son always gets a swab at his clinic visits, wether he is well or not. The one thing about throat swabs I've noticed is each person does them differently, some nurses only just touch the back of the throat, while others really go for it and make him gag. We prefer to do them ourselfs unless it is a person who we know is good at it.
Your right I think he should be doing them, esp in the younger years, our dr is very proactive mind you, and I suppose we are too.

 

[JoAnn]

Hi Salli - Did Archie go for a reg. pediatric appointment or a cf clinic appointment? Just curious as the Doctor's reply sounds more like a regular pediatrician or pulmonologist and not a CF Clinic Pulmonologist.

 

[anonymous]

My son w/CF gets a throat culture at every visit to the CF clinic, which is about every 2-3months. He has had pseudomonas show up 3 times in 3 years despite an "all clear" report on his lungs and everything else. At the pediatrician they don't do it.

 

[anonymous]

Our son goes to clinic every month and they take cultures every visit. He has never showed any signs of respiratory issues. His first culture found psuedo's and we were shocked since his chest xray and breathing were fine. I would demand that they take cultures if you have any concerns at all.

 

[eli]

Hi Salli, our clinic doesn't do thraot swabs or cultures either. I have been fighitng for ages about this topic.
Anyway i finally demanded one only beacause she had a nasty cough and i wanted to make sure there was nothig there,well it enede up being negative.

Ialso spoke the her peadiatricain the other day and mentined to him that she had a thoat swab, his responce was that they are useless and can't tell you enough. He said if you want to be more accurate you need to have a culure done. Throat swabs are only good ( he stated) is if you seem to have some sort of infection in the bcak of the throat. It will not tellyou whats grownign in the lungs.

ps- wow- your lucky Archi is inthe 50%, Olivia is still only just on the 10% for weight and heaight.

Just have faith in your docs and if you strongly beleive that he needs a culture then just push for one, like i did.

Good luck.

 

[Ratatosk]

Regular clinic appointments they don't do a throat swab . Just the CF clinic appointments, which are about everty 5-6 months. DS has more sinus type issues, so I've always wondered if maybe the pseudo that's shown up, isn't maybe in his sinuses.

 

[angelsmom]

My daughter was showing absolutely no symptoms when she cultured positive for pseudo. No cough, no cold even at the time. So I would definitely push your clinic to do routine throat cultures because things can be there even if there is no cough going on.

Also, it is better to treat pseudo early and aggressively the first time in the hopes of erradicating it. My daughter is in a clinical study that is looking at this very thing. She was diagnosed at 18 months, cultured pseudo about a month later. We did 28 days on Tobi and, as part of the study, she also took Cipro or a placebo (we don't know which she had). In the five months since then, she has had two negative cultures. I don't know if this means she won't ever culture it again, but for now, I'm glad we found it and treated when we did.

 

[anonymous]

My children get a throat culture every three months, sometimes more often if I am concerned about a cough. My son cultured pseudomonas only one time at his first year check up. He had absolutely NO symptoms. No cough, no runny nose, nothing. Thankfully, Tobi an oral antibotic seemed to have gotten rid of it and it hasn't returned in the last two years. I would be a bit concerned if my children's cf doctor didn't know a lot (or more than me) about pseudomonas. Is he with a cf clinic?
Sharon, mom of Sophia, almost 5 and Jack, almost 3 both with cf

 

[anonymous]

Salli,

I feel like I'm answering the same as most but, I just want to reiterate.
Cassidie (17 months) gets a throat swab every visit (2month intervals).
Her last one (4 weeks ago) came back pos for pseudo. We didn't have a clue
as she showed no signs of being sick.

Great luck to you.

Best Regards,

Trent
Loving father of Emilie 5 no/CF
and Cassidie 17 months w/CF

 

[anonymous]

I am just going to continue to add to what everyone has said. My Sam showed no symptoms, but cultured them at about 6 months. We do not know yet if we got rid of them or not, we are currently awaiting the throat swab. Since he had no symptoms to begin with, I of course think he is fine now (but he seemed that way before!) I would just press for the throat swab. It is easy and painless, and will provide you with peace of mind!

Carrie

 

[Salli]

Thanks all for your responses. Yes we go to Monash Medical centre
in Melbourne Australia which is a cf clinic. His doc is the
president for respiratory disease (the department) but I always
seem to come away thinking that he doesn't do a thorough enough
check on him. Next appointment I will push for the culture to be
done and see how we go. Does anyone out there go to another CF
centre in Melbourne and can tell me what procedures are done when
they go for their check ups??

 

[cfmomma]

my son went to the CF clinic yesterday as well. He goes every three months and they always swab his throat or have him spit mucus into a cup. I think it should be routine for every CF center.

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>dyza</b></i>

hi Salli,



our son always gets a swab at his clinic visits, wether he is well or not. The one thing about throat swabs I've noticed is each person does them differently, some nurses only just touch the back of the throat, while others really go for it and make him gag. We prefer to do them ourselfs unless it is a person who we know is good at it.

Your right I think he should be doing them, esp in the younger years, our dr is very proactive mind you, and I suppose we are too.</end quote></div>


Hi Craig,

Our daughter gets a swab done every 2 month clinic visit, either the nurse or physio does it. You're sooo right about each person does them differently, I think it is a confidence thing to. The physio faffs around loads and is basically not very confident, whereas the nurse is excellent at doing them. Do they actually let you do them yourselves?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Charlotte<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

Yesterday Archie went for his check up and I asked about when a throat swab will be done. The doc said he only does them if Archie appears to have a cough or is unwell. I explained that other infants have been detected to have pseudo's even without presenting any symptoms and he said that could not be??? He listened to Archie's lungs and all is clear there but I am concerned that he does not do a thorough enough check on him. Do you think I should push for this procedure to be done or listen to my doctor? Archie is doing great at the moment - above 50% for weight and height so maybe thats why he isn't doing further checks on him? What do you all think??



Salli

Mum to Archie 9mths w/cf</end quote></div>

Hi Salli,

Our daughter has a cough swab done each clinic visit she goes to, roughly every 2 months. They picked up Pseudo on one of these. She also has one done if she has a cough/cold and has to go onto her 'back-up' antibiotic, and they also do another one at the end of her course.

I definitely think you should push for one to be done every clinic visit. I am pleased that your son is doing well. At the end of the day though, you are his mother and you should have the right to have cough swabs done if you want them.

Good luck.

PS I love the name Archie<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif" border="0">

Charlotte<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Thanks Charlotte, if I could attach a photo of him I would - he is such an Archie! I will try again at next appointment for cough swab. Basically I am not going home without one done! And I'm going to make him test him for vitamins as well. Sick of coming home feeling that my doc is being slack.

 

[anonymous]

Good for you - that's the spirit! Let us know how you get on.

Good luck.

Charlotte<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[imondeck]

My son gets a throat swab every 3 months.

He really hates to do them, he would rather give blood than have a throat swab. His doctor has to be very patient and cajoling with him to get it done. Anyone else's children like this?

 

[anonymous]

Responding to Sandra's (imondeck) question about children putting up a fight against throat swab. My 3 year old hates them. I thought he was just being a complainer so I got them to do my throat since I'd not had one since I was a kid. I almost puked. The boy still has to get them, but at least now I sympathize with his hatred of them.

 

[anonymous]

Hi Salli,
i go to the alfred hospital in melblourne and see the cf team there i go once a month and always cough up mucus in to a cup so it can be tested.