My daughter was sick with a fever for about four days and she was also having abdominal pain. I took her to a Dr that was not her regular Dr and they did a strep test and a urine test. The strep test came back positive and she had blood and protein in her urine on the dipstick so they did a blood test as well. She was given antibiotics and told to do a follow up 3 days later. We went in for the follow up and the blood and protein in her urine had significantly reduced but was still there. We were also told that her ANA was slightly elevated but the rest of her blood work was completely normal. I called her regular Dr who is retiring and he referred us to a rheumatologist and said it could be lupus or it might mean absolutely nothing and was just a result of a bad case of strep. Now, I am freaking out.
I looked up lupus and she doesn't have any of the other symptoms, but her appointment isn't for two weeks. She feels completely better now, but I am still really worried. If you or someone you know has lupus, what were the first symptoms/warning signs?
Don't freak. She is better. ANA is not a great test. Chances are she is fine.
I hate the ANA test. My son always tests positive. His isn't even low - it's a HIGH positive. The test has LOTS of false positives. We were sent to pediatric rheum dr at a childrens hospital bc of his positive ANA - and they checked him over and then said no need to come back, that the test is not reliable. Oddly enough, my sister also tests positive for ANA and has no disease. There are familial positives with ANA test that mean nothing or *could* mean your child has the potential to develop something later in life (but again most likely will not). I wouldn't worry about it!
ANA has a huge false positive. I tested positive for Lupus. So did my Aunt. We do not have Lupus!!!! I wouldn't freak out. Go to the appointment, have her looked over and then move on. I am betting she is fine.
Three days on antibiotics is not long enough to get over what ails her. I think that SouthernYankee has good advice for you. I would think that if this isn't a "bug", that something is wrong with her abdomon, so if she is still in pain, I'd get her back to the doctor to make sure she doesn't have something inside that's not supposed to be there.
I'd be freaking out too but you got some good advice from these other Moms...remember, "lots of false positives"...
