Strep Throat
infected sputum in their nose or mouth, or drinking from a cup of an infected person. Hand washing and not sharing utensils and cups are the best ways to avoid passing the bacteria. Think about strep throat if: Your child has fever above 100.5 a sore throat enlarged lymph nodes. |
- Some people believe every sore throat is from the strep bacteria.
Actually MOST sore throats are from viruses. And antibiotics won't help.
Strep throat is dangerous because it can "settle" in your heart causing
rheumatic heart disease... that is why doctors treat strep with
antibiotics. The antibiotics also help to get rid of the sore throat
sooner- but even strep throat pain goes away after 4-5 days.
Most doctors believe as long as strep throat is treated within 7-10
days, the patient can avoid rheumatic heart disease. That is why if the
rapid strep office test is negative- it is safe to wait and check the strep
culture from the laboratory in 1-2 days rather than treating right away.
A strep test is necessary before antibiotics... a sore throat and fever
(even if there is pus on the tonsils) can be from a virus. Antibiotics can
be overused if prescribed over the telephone or without a positive
test.
The strep culture sent to the laboratory attempts to grow the bacteria.
This is 100% effective but takes 24-48 hours. It is the best way to insure
a strep infection is not missed, if there is a strep carrier, or if there is a
reason to recheck a patient within 14 days of antibiotic use.
The rapid strep office test looks for your body fighting strep A- the
strain of strep that is thought to be most dangerous. The test is about
90% effective. A positive test means either you have an active
infection... OR if you have had a positive strep occurrence within the
last 14 days... the rapid test might be positive (showing you fighting
the strep) even though the antibiotic treatment has worked and you
actually are cured (this is called a false positive test and should not
result in more antibiotic usage).
If your child has strep throat:
- Penicillin and Amoxicillin remain the best drugs!
- A Penicillin shot really isn't better than oral medication- but the
child doesn't have to take medicine so compliance is improved...
but it isn't fun. - Zithromax is often given to kids allergic to penicillin but there is
as high as a 20% resistance- that means 2 out of 10 kids treated
with Zithromax don't have the strep killed. Other drugs should be
considered. - Changing the toothbrush is a good idea after 24 hours of
antibiotics. - Returning to school/daycare/sports teams is ok after 24 hours of
antibiotics - Ibuprofen helps with the pain and fever
- Fluids help decrease the chance for dehydration
More than 4 occurrences in one season or 6 occurrences in a year
should make you and the doctor think about strep carrier status or if
true re-infections, the possibility of a tonsillectomy.
Always discuss the diagnosis, care, and treatment of your child with a
health care provider. This newsletter is intended to be an addition (not
a substitution) to your child's office visit.
| Does my child have to come to the office... I'm certain it's strep! |
| Why are some tests in the office and others sent off to a laboratory? |
| Treatment |
| wellbody Blue Valley Pediatrics |
| Why do we treat strep throat? |
