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SELECT 
  COUNT(*) 
FROM 
  cscart_discussion_posts 
  LEFT JOIN cscart_discussion_messages ON cscart_discussion_messages.post_id = cscart_discussion_posts.post_id 
  LEFT JOIN cscart_discussion_rating ON cscart_discussion_rating.post_id = cscart_discussion_posts.post_id 
WHERE 
  cscart_discussion_posts.thread_id = 26 
  AND cscart_discussion_posts.status = 'A'

Query time 0.00037

Explain
id	select_type	table	type	possible_keys	key	key_len	ref	rows	Extra
1	SIMPLE	cscart_discussion_posts	ref	thread_id,thread_id_2	thread_id	3	const	2	Using where

Result

COUNT(*)
2