Anyone have a child with recurring strep throat?

[Minnie824]

I think DD has strep throat again...for the 3rd time in 5 months now. I'm calling the doctor as soon as they open, but she gets a rash with strep throat, which she woke up with again. Last time, we waited 2 weeks after the medicine was done, rechecked, and it was gone. Now its back again. I'm trying to figure out what could be causing this? Gymnastics? thats the only place she was this summer....the dog? She doesnt go by him much, but could have it and pass it to her? Is she just a carrier of strep somehow? Has anyone gone thru this and have any advice? Thanks.

 

[Christine]

There was one year that, I swear, my DD got this about 3 or 4 times. She was pretty young though--maybe about 5. It finally stopped and she hasn't had it since (she is now 14). We never were able to figure out what the problem was.

It is something you have to watch. One of my neighbor's kids had recurring strep throat for a year. He finally had to have his tonsils out and that stopped it.

 

[WilmaBud]

My children have had strep more times than I can count. One year, my daughter had it for 12 weeks straight. It turned out that my son was carrying it. He had never shown any outward signs of illness. But when she kept getting reinfected, we all had to be tested, and he was the culprit.

I have also had recurrent strep. Two years ago, I had it 4 times in 3 months. The doctor wanted to send me to a specialist, but I refused (they'd want to take my tonsils out, and that ain't happenin'!). It finally went away after heavy-duty antibiotics. I get it at least once every year or two.

I think some people are very vulnerable to strep. My kids and I certainly are. If I were you, I'd get everybody in the house tested (cultured). If everyone is clear, maybe one of her friends has it. My vet told me it's highly unlikely for a dog to give it to a human being.

 

[Goingforbroke]

My DS (8) had the same problem and also had problems with his ears. We finally took him to an ENT and he told us his tonsils and adenoids were quite large. This turns into a breeding ground for bacteria. He recommended he have his tonsils and adenoids removed and PE tubes put in. We did this back in June and we cannot believe the difference!! He doesn't sound like he constantly has a cold, he doesn't snore anymore and he hasn't even had as much as a cold since then! It was rough for him the first week after surgery, but it was worth it in the long run.

 

[golfgal]

That was DD when she was 4/5 years old. She had strep 10 times that year and even had strep when they took her tonsils/adenoids out. She hasn't had strep since and she is 10.

Some friends kids had recurring strep and couldn't figure out why. Their dr suggested testing their dog, which they did, and sure enough the dog was a carrier. They treated the dog and no more strep.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

My younger DD has strep all the time, it has colonized in her throat. Needless to say, we are having her tonsils and adenoids taken out. She was suppose to have the surgery back in August, but of course on the day of her surgery she gets a fever and, you guessed it, strep throat. So, now we're shooting for Nov.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

I get it all the time. I am supposed to have my tonsils out, but am putting it off because I am scared. Plus I am also waiting to have a hysterectomy and it's like playing the weighing game of which one is more necessary! So, until then, the dr. has me on Allegra-D, Singulair, Flo-Nase to keep my allergies under control and all my passages open so strep doesn't breed. They also think I am a carrier and that is why my kids get it. Great!!!....

 

[septbride2002]

My brother and I get strep throat if anyone around us has it. They never took our tonsils out - but we always seem to get it once or twice a year. This has been going on for ages! I'm 26 now, the first time I had strep I was about 6/7?

~Amanda

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd's have gotten strep after mouth injuries. Just to through out another weird one.
The DOG? Never would have thought that one!

 

[DisneyArk]

Yes my DS had that problem. One year he had strep 10 times! Like many other posters said, the ENT recommended that we have his tonsils and adenoids taken out (they were HUGE). That was when he was 5, now he is 7 and has only had strep 1 time since then!

The last few times DS had strep he did not show any symptoms. He would get fussy and seem tired, but no fever and he would claim no sore throat.

I think it would be a good idea to visit an ENT.

 

[TwinMom7]

Our youngest would get strep 4-5 times a year and her tonsils were always HUGE!!!! Our family doctor would never do anything about it, so I finally took her to a ENT on my own. He took one look at her "healthy" tonsils and looked at me and said "this is a no-brainer". Her tonsils almost touched even when there was no infection. A month later, the tonsils and adenoids were gone - that was 8 years ago, and she hasn't had strep since.

 

[kaylajr]

Our youngest would get strep 4-5 times a year and her tonsils were always HUGE!!!! Our family doctor would never do anything about it, so I finally took her to a ENT on my own. He took one look at her "healthy" tonsils and looked at me and said "this is a no-brainer". Her tonsils almost touched even when there was no infection. A month later, the tonsils and adenoids were gone - that was 8 years ago, and she hasn't had strep since.

Exactly what we went thru with our DD she was 7 when i finally said enough and took her to the ENT on my own
he couldn't belive she still had her tonsils

not one strep throat since even when her sister had it

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter had strep almost 5 months straight..she would stop antibiotics on a Tuesday and by Thursday she would have strep again...they kept her on antibiotics for 30 straight days one month and as soon as she was off them back it came.....Tonsils and Adenoids out June 5th and hasn't been sick once since then!!

 

[mrsmom]

My ds 8 has had recurring strep throat and the problem is he had his tonsils and adnoids out at 22 months because of this and still get alot of recurring strep throat, Drs can't tell me why though.Good luck
Kim

 

[Tinks]

Okay..seems to be a trend! My DS also had recurring strep and just had his tonsils and adenoids removed July 25th. So far so good! The only difference in his case was his tonsils were NOT large. They were normal to small in size. The ENT basically said some people have more grooves and/or pits in their tonsils where the bacteria can hide out and not be totally killed off by antibiotics. Hence, the recurring strep. I believe you become a candidate for tonsillectomy if you've had 4 or more cases in one year.

Good luck!

 

[Kaybee]

My DS too was a chronic strep carrier and ended up on a maintence dose of antibiotics for 3 months before he had his tonsils out. Everytime we took him off antibiotics within 2 weeks he had strep throat again. He had huge tonsils too. After getting his tonsils and adnoids removed he has never had a sore throat since and he is now 23!!!

 

[Minnie824]

Well, back from the dr...definitely strep throat again. Dr. said its a good chance one of us in the family is a carrier....no symptoms, but has strep that DD is getting it from. We're wondering if its maybe our 1.5 yo, cuz everytime DD4 gets it, DD1.5 never does, which i would think she would? Who knows. Thanks for the input everyone!