Staph Infections

M.,

There is a product called Silver Shield you can get from Nature's Sunshine Products that kills viruses, bacteria, mold and fungus. It even kills MRSA and it's non-toxic. It also helps make antibiotics more effective. You can give it to her orally and topically, and it should do the trick. All those antibiotics will really wreak havoc on her system. You should also get her on probiotics asap to help her gut get repopulated with good bacteria and boost her immune system. A good one for kids is bifidophilus. I open a capsule of it and give it to my 3-year old every morning in a little applesauce. That last doctor sounds like a complete idiot. Try to find a functional medicine doctor; they treat the person rather than just the symptoms. Good luck!

J.

If the school isn't taking it seriously, maybe you need to go to the media. Take extreme care, remain totally clean and cautious of it... don't listen to the "you'll know"... becuase you won't.

Yes, you do need to take it very seriously, my father died from MRSA, he was injected with an unclean needle at the VA hospital while he was undergoing cancer treatment, and the MRSA got into his bloodstream. The hospital staff and medical community do not always take precations and "laugh it off".

Also, I know of a medical group in Fort Worth whose employee got a severe staph infection in her bloodstream as well, she had to have emergency surgery for it. The managers told the office staff it wouldn't spread, and just sprayed the office down with disinfectant... this is a medical group! It's a shame.

I think you need to call an infectious disease doctor. I found this online "You need to call a Pediatric Infectious Disease Doctor Call Dr. Kussman at ###-###-####, and ask him for a referral. He treats adults only,but I'm sure he'll know of a good doc for you daughter." You should try calling it couldn't hurt. Also have you thought of calling Scottish Rite they could probably help you. G

The thing about staph is that we all carry it in our bodies naturally. When it runs rampant and becomes resistant to antibiotic treatment then there is cause to be concerned. I am a teacher and have worked in the medical field as well. Our school will not allow a student to attend school if they are diagnosed with a staph infection. The Center for Disease Control in your area should have a representative that you can talk to and possibly get some solid answers. Although the doctor's suggestion that "You will know" was disconcerting, they are relying on your experience in the other cases as to when it worsened. If there are changes in the area, worsening of the discomfort and redness, I would say that was an increase in seriousness, and you should start the Bactrim.
You are doing the right thing. Clorox also has the spray that you can spray on any hard surface, and I would recommend that you use that. Once this has passed, using antibacterial soap and other sanitizing agents can actually be harmful. It is the use of these products on such a wide scale that has created this often termed "superbug". As long as you are washing her linen and clothing seperately, using excellent handwashing, and really just trying to protect everyone, this will pass. I would think of it as anywhere you all come in contact, just sanitize at the end of the day. You didn't mention how old your daughter was but I would think about lightswitches, doorhandles, car doors, etc, just until this has cleared up. As the saying goes, this too shall pass. Keep the faith!
Alli H.

I work in healthcare and will tell you that most people are carriers of MRSA. It is already everywhere. When we see children with it, they normally have a round of clindamycin. We also have the put bactroban in their noses and she would probably benefit for haveing it placed on her rectum. We also recommend hibiclens baths. While seeing an infectious disease doctor would be nice, they would probably require a referral from you doctor and it may take a while to get in to see one. Are you seeing a doctor affiliated with Cook Children's? If not. I would recommend that you do. Good luck.

My daughter of 16 years old had it. She was a swimmer at her hich school. Staph infections are very contagious. It comes
from inside your nose. If she picks her nose and then unconciously touch her parts of the body which will spread.
My husband was the next to get staph infection. I felt it kept going back and forth with eachother. I was at my wits end. They both had very weak immune system also. Once they built that and maintained their immune system the healing process began. Try to keep everything separate, their towels and wash their bed sheets. Hand washing is very important.
Keep neosporin in their nose. Staph infections leave bad scars once they heal. Best of Luck.