DD has staph infection

[BaronsMom]

Poor DD 16 has a bad staph infection in her arm. But is working her whole body. She lost over 10 pounds in 10 days.

She has a hard time eating - hurts her stomach to eat. She's is on antibiotics (like horse pills), but not clearing up very fast.

Trying to find foods she'll eat - may have to go get her some Pedialyte too. She isn't big on Gatorade.

Dr said may have just been a small scratch and all it took was for a little germ to get in there and bam. DD tried treating it herself like she would a small scratch or cut and was using peroxide and antibacterial cream. But by the time she gave up which was only 3 days, it was already bad. The wound is up near her shoulder and her t-shirts covered it up.

For other parents/grandparents - Dr also said he is seeing and increase of this in teen age group.

[wr]

BaronsMom, I'm very sorry she has a staph infection. I had one many years ago and still remember how long it took to clear up and how bad it wore me down. I can't offer too many suggestions but you do need to get liquids into her, there is a certain amount of fever associated with major infections and you're right in worrying about dehydration.

[cider]

My DD 18 just had one of these that was resistant. It was on her arm just below her elbow. We thought it was a spider bite but it just kept getting worse. Eventually it had to be lanced.
Another one popped up on her leg about a month later.
Keep a close eye on her cause it's nothing to mess around with.
DD"s stomach hurt the whole time from the antibiotic but there is no getting around taking them. Try yogurt, mashed potatoes and other mild foods. Small meals often.

[big rockpile]

I'm Praying for her.Thats some Bad Stuff.I don't even want to start on the dealing I've had with it.

big rockpile

[via media]

Make sure she doesn't give it to another family member - I don't know if these were doctor's orders or not, but when my father had a staph infection, my mum washed all of his laundry separately in hot water, made extra sure the bath was disinfected, etc.

I hope she recovers quickly.

/VM

[MelissaW]

Oh dear. Sorry she's sick. You might want to ask the doctor about getting a different antibiotic. I just finished medicine for a staph infection in my toe. He gave me one that he said was gentle on the stomach (I wish I had saved the bottle. I want to say it was Cefzil or Cefilexan?), and had me eat Danactive yogurt every day that I was on it. He also said that if the stomach upset was too bad, to take acidophilis cultures in pill form which are sold in the vitamin section of the pharmacy. Hopefully, she will adjust to the medicine in a day or so, and the stomach upset will go away on it's own. Staph infections are scary things, so I'm glad she got to the doctor when she did. I waited just three days before I went, and by the third day, I cried the whole night from the throbbing pain, and had to have the infection lanced and drained. I'm thinking of her today. Poor baby.

[ErinP]

Staph can indeed be scary. A college friend of Dh's and I's died earlier this spring of the blood-born staph. A healthy, active 35 year old mom of two. It was devastating. One Sunday she was in for a staph infection, the next she was gone.
Frankly, I'd be after a second opinion if it's not clearing up.

More likely than not, it's nothing. But this is a good time to be overly cautious...

[BaronsMom]

Yup - Dr gave us three days on the antibiotics and said if she isn't better or gets a fever, she is right back in his office. She has until tomorrow to perk up or she is going back in.

[marvella]

did they test for MRSA? and it amy be the antibiotics making her sick at her stomach.

[unregistered29228]

Originally Posted by marvella

did they test for MRSA? and it amy be the antibiotics making her sick at her stomach.

You beat me to it....I was going to ask that. I have two friends and a family member who have had strange infections that wouldn't clear up and all three ended up being MRSA. Be very careful, BaronsMom....I know you are, but you hear awful stories of young people dying from MRSA.

[Ravenlost]

I hope she gets better soon!

Hydrogen Peroxide should not be used on wounds.

[Becca65]

Whys that Ravenlost? I've always learned that it draws the infection out, and thats what the doctor recommends where i work, I always use it when my DD scraps herself or get scratched by the cat. I googled it and found this site for peroxide.

http://www.angelfire.com/az/sthursto..._peroxide.html
My friends Dad had problems with his feet, he was a diabetic and she treated it with peroxide and antibacterial cream, and they healed really good.
I've used it on cuts and other things and actually it helps it heal faster.

[reese]

My neighbor just got over that, he's an adult. It started out in his knee and just went crazy. In his case he was hospitialized for it since he didn't get into the dr. until it was really bad. He was out of work for 3 weeks or so due to it.

Please take good care of her and as long as she stays hydrated and eats just a little bit, don't worry too much. I wouldn't give gatoraide or pedialite though, that stuff is awful.

As for the peroxide, I don't have the time to explain, but I don't use it in wounds either. Hopefully someone has more time that can explain, or I will when I get back.

Reese

[cchapman84]

Hydrogen peroxide is more likely to cause scarring and can slow the healing process from what I understand.

[gina kay]

When I worked in the hospital the doctors said that hydogen peroxide is fine to use first to get the bacteria out but then not again because it keeps the wound from healing. It kills off the new tissue that's trying to form.

[Becca65]

Ohh ok Gina that makes sense. I wonder how it worked on my coworkers fathers foot that was infected then? Because she said it healed really well.

[cider]

One of DD's docs said that if she kept reinfecting with MRSA to take bleach baths. She said one cup of regular bleach to a tub of water and stay in at least 15 minutes.
The doc said it is very effective. DD's MRSA is gone for now but if it comes back she plans on doing it.

[BaronsMom]

Just an update - DD16 is on the road to recovery from her staph infection.

She ended up having to go in for an ultrasound just to make sure there wasn't infection deeper in her arm. But, there wasn't - thank goodness.

The antibiotics weren't working quick enough so they bumped her up the next level of antibiotic and huge difference.

So she is 12 lbs lighter since she got the infection...but has started eating something other than Ramen noodles again. She feels like eating - that's a good thing.

Now she feels well enough to start working out with her volleyball team again.

Dr did say that if we notice anything similar starting, to come in right away and they can stop from getting to this point. Now we know what to look for - we will!

Thanks all....

[Lynn Bodoni]

Originally Posted by gina kay

When I worked in the hospital the doctors said that hydogen peroxide is fine to use first to get the bacteria out but then not again because it keeps the wound from healing. It kills off the new tissue that's trying to form.

For a large, deep wound sometimes that's a good thing. When my husband had a pilonidal cyst (do NOT google for this) removed, he had a big deep canyon over his tailbone. I was instructed to clean it and repack it several times a day, using peroxide. The doc wanted the wound to heal from the inside out, he didn't want a pocket to form.

I am delighted to hear that your daughter is on the road to recovery. Sometimes all that's needed is a different drug.

[MelissaW]

I'm so glad she's feeling better! What a fright that must have been. Hopefully she can regain her weight and strength back quickly. Thanks for the update!