Since Christmas we have been trying to solve the ongoing salmonella Josh keeps testing positive for. The last gastro dr we saw at GOS ordered some new stool tests plus a regular screening for bacteria etc. This was done on dec 19th but results were delayed until 31st dec, saying Josh was positive for salmonella.(see previous post) He stayed off preschool whilst they retested (and also tested Aaron and Ethan) and returned after 2 days when it came back negative. They started the original tests again but they then came back positive for salmonella again! So although it was felt he would not be very contagious, he was off preschool whilst they decided what to do. He then tested positive again (totalling a month although he seemed well apart from the usual diarrhea) and his drs convened and decided to start him on some strong antibiotcs (ciprofloxacin) for 2 weeks high dose. There was a list of some worrying side effects (hence not used in children lightly) but fortunately he suffered none of these. In total he had 3 weeks off preschool plus half term he missed it quite a bit but seemed to benefit from the rest at home. Unfortunately all 3 boys got a regular sickness bug during this time too (we tested to be sure!) so a LOT of washing :(
Interestingly whilst on the antibiotics he had no diarrhea at all but when he stopped them it came back full force. We saw a local gastro dr about testing for sugars malabsorbtion which his stool results suggested and she thought his bowel (due to his malformation, surgeries, etc) is not flushing bacteria out properly, found out by the salmonella saga, but involving other bacterias resulting in 'small bowel bacteria overgrowth'. There would be more testing to confirm this and we have yet to talk to his GOS gastroenterologist but the trouble is now not just treating it but working out how to solve the underlying problem so its not recurring all the time. We also need to test another sample next week.
swollen tummy
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