Strep / ISA Warning – “Parents Should Not Do Strep Tests at Home”

Her attention of parents to early and correct diagnosis of invasive streptococcal disease from which 11 children have ended up in the country, appeals the Medical Association of Athens.

As stated in the relevant announcement, the ISA was informed by the Panhellenic Federation of Free-lance Pediatricians that recently the phenomenon is intensifying many parents to buy and do on their own or at the pharmacy, the rapid test for strep (Strep-Test) in their child who has a fever and sore throat.

ISA emphasizes that downloading material for its implementation strep test it requires experience that the parent cannot have, adding that in rapid tests there is a possibility of a false result. It may come out negative but the child may have streptococcal disease. Additionally in the general population there is a percentage of healthy carriers of streptococcus. If a strep test is performed on these children, it is most likely that it will come out positive.

The ISA also points out that only the doctor is trained after the clinical examination to administer treatment or perform any medical procedure.

The parents they should contact the pediatrician when their child shows symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, rash, etc. For the prescription of an antibiotic for streptococcal pharyngitis, a relevant protocol is applied by the infection committee of the Ministry of Health, which clearly describes when the strep test should be done after clinical examination. Any other tactic can endanger children’s health, concludes the Medical Association of Athens.