Bacterial infection?

[TooPatient]

A family member is sick. She has been out for a week now with sore throat and fever. Not strep. Not mono. Sores on her tongue, tonsils, throat, esophagus, and stomach .(I don't know how they know that, but is what she said.)

She went in this morning for a second antibiotic injection. When I asked if they have been helping, she said it is hard to tell.

Isn't there some way to culture it to see what bacteria it is and give antibiotics based on that? I am at a loss of what to suggest and she is too sick to think of questions. Anyone ever dealt with something like this?

 

[whitewave]

Sounds viral to me.

 

[DAF]

They should have swabbed the throat and cultured it to see if it was bacterial.

 

[TooPatient]

I don't think her Dr has handled this well so far. She just got a call from her Dr to get to the emergency room. Likely needs IV fluids and needs to be checked for abscesses in throat that may need drained. I'm hoping they can sort her out! My mom is picking her up now to go in.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Could it be thrush?

https://www.healthline.com/health/candida-esophagitis

Not a doctor but maybe worth looking into?

 

[TooPatient]

They are keeping my aunt in the hospital for at least a day but possibly more. No abscess in throat. Hopefully will know more tomorrow. I passed on the suggestions here to my mom so she could ask the Drs about it as she sat with her.

I also remembered she had a rash or pimply thing covering her body about 6 weeks ago. Made sure that was passed on too in case it is important.

 

[OoohShiny]

Sounds viral to me.

Will antibiotics help if it is viral?

 

[House Cat]

They are keeping my aunt in the hospital for at least a day but possibly more. No abscess in throat. Hopefully will know more tomorrow. I passed on the suggestions here to my mom so she could ask the Drs about it as she sat with her.

I also remembered she had a rash or pimply thing covering her body about 6 weeks ago. Made sure that was passed on too in case it is important.

Strep can cause a rash. It can also go away and not show symptoms for a bit and then come back with a vengeance. If she has abscesses in the back of her throat, she probably has some kind of bacterial infection...

If you aren’t feeling confident in her medical care, you should transfer her or get another doctor down there.

 

[whitewave]

It could be shingles

 

[TooPatient]

Strep can cause a rash. It can also go away and not show symptoms for a bit and then come back with a vengeance. If she has abscesses in the back of her throat, she probably has some kind of bacterial infection...

If you aren’t feeling confident in her medical care, you should transfer her or get another doctor down there.

Her GP left me questioning her competence. The hospital she is in is pretty good. We have others that are better in specialized areas, but she is in a good place to determine what is wrong.

It didn't react much to the first antibiotic injection. Sounds like they are looking closer now.

 

[luv2sparkle]

Hope they can find the cause and a cure soon! Hugs.

 

[Tekate]

I like the shingles diagnosis. In which case it's serious for sure. I hppe it isn't tho. At this point taking the anti viral is too late.. it is rare btw (from what I read).. but the rash should follow the trigeminal nerves so it won't be everywhere. sending healing thoughts. My office mate (a huge Harry Potter fan) had a rash on her forehead, I thought it was bacterial, turned out it was shingles (she was in her early 40s).. left a scar that looked just like the Potter scar... I told her I thought it was a cellulitis so I am usually wrong.

 

[whitewave]

I like the shingles diagnosis. In which case it's serious for sure. I hppe it isn't tho. At this point taking the anti viral is too late.. it is rare btw (from what I read).. but the rash should follow the trigeminal nerves so it won't be everywhere. sending healing thoughts. My office mate (a huge Harry Potter fan) had a rash on her forehead, I thought it was bacterial, turned out it was shingles (she was in her early 40s).. left a scar that looked just like the Potter scar... I told her I thought it was a cellulitis so I am usually wrong.

Yup, my mom had scalp shingles and also on her forehead. My friend at age 45 had EYE shingles. She had to use eye drops and ointments for a year so she wouldn’t lose vision.