Strep Throat? Have Some Questions on It?

Looks like you got good ideas to help sooth the sore throat, but I'm not sure what you're wanting when you say, "to help get rid of strep?" There's absolutely nothing to get rid of it except antibiotics, it's a bacterial infection and that's all you can do. If you mean in your house...make sure everyone is washing hands constantly, have him use the same bathroom and don't let anyone else use it until a few days of medicine and it's been cleaned throughly.

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Ooh, the dreaded strep throat can be painful. My son had it back to back a couple of years ago, not fun. I would say to switch out the toothbrush when you start the antibodic and/or halfway through. Also, a clean pillowcase and towels and clorox wipes to clean where he's touched. During the winter months Vit C is always good. As far as home redemies; gargle with salt warm water and a nice cup of tea with lemon and honey. It's hard with kids, but tell him it's helps! Good luck......

My son gets strep 3 to 4 times a year. We disinfect his toothbrush while he is sick and then replace it when he is finished with the antibiotics. The only way to "get rid" of strep is to take the antibiotics. Remember that they are still contagious until they have been on the antibiotics for 24 hours. To help soothe the symptoms such as the sore throat we use pedialite ice pops and other cold food items. My son gets it really bad and he has significant swelling and usually has to be put on a steroid for it. Keep an eye on him that he does not have trouble swallowing or breathing as this can indicate swelling of his tonsils and adnoids. Also follow common sense precautions such as hand washing, and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, don't share cups ect.

Make sure he finshes all the antibiotics. He can try to gargle with some salt water, it might help sooth it. As for the tooth brush, I just read an article that claims they do not hold germs (I don't know who they are, but I prefer to change mine). I change mine every other month and I will change it if I have been really sick.

A spoon of honey, if he's over a year, might soothe the throat. Honey also is a natural antibiotic, so double the benefit. Tea with honey also works. As for the toothbrush, you can just disinfect it with a soak in peroxide and even run it through the dishwasher, if you're really concered. Good luck and I hope he feels better soon!

Antibiotics are required to treat strep. Penicillin or amoxicillin is usually first tried. Antibiotics should be taken for 10 days, even though symptoms are usually gone after few days.
The following tips may help your sore throat feel better:
Drink warm liquids such as lemon tea or tea with honey.
Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (1/2 tsp of salt in 1 cup water).
Drink cold liquids or suck on popsicles.
Suck on hard candies or throat lozenges. Young children should not be given such products because they can choke on them.
A cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier can moisten and soothe a dry and painful throat.
Try over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen.
Symptoms of strep throat usually get better in about 1 week. Untreated, strep can lead to serious complications. From http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001663/

Make sure you have him finish all the antibiotics - even if he feels better. And try hard not to miss a dose.

If his throat is real sore, have him gargle with brown (apple) vinegar. It will help with the pH balance.

I would not give him dairy products - it increases mucus production.

I don't actually know about the toothbrush - hope to read what others say about it!

D.

Anti-inflammatories like advil or motrin.

Other than that, rest, and as many liquids as he'll take.

My mom always made me get the antiobiotic shot instead of the oral medicine so it would kick in faster.

And I actually don't remember ever changing out my toothbrush when I was younger after I was sick, though I think about doing it now that I'm older.

Also, it's been proven that dairy products do NOT actually increase mucus production. It's just an old wives tale.

You're not contagious after 24hrs of antibiotics, so that's usually when we ditch the toothbrush. And unlike most other viruses - you CAN give Strep back and forth and get it right back!!! We now keep little covers over all of our toothbrushes all of the time so that if they do happen to touch, we are not sharing our germs with the family.
You can gargle warm salt water to sooth and it's a natural antiseptic.

Absolutely have him gargle with warm salt water several times a day if you can get him to and if he's old enough to be able to do it correctly. Strep throat is the illness that I have quite a bit of personal experience with and the salt water gargle truly does help.