2 Yr Old Has Strep Again

Updated on January 25, 2008
M.G. asks from Red Boiling Springs, TN
21 answers

My 2 yr old daughter has strep for the third time in 4 months. Her dr said not to worry about it unless it happens six times in a year. But that just seems to be alot. Shes constantly been sick and im worried. Should i seek a second opinion or try and get her dr to send me to a specialist? It just doesnt seem normal to have it this often. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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So What Happened?

I'd like to Thank everyone for their help. We talked to her doc about it and he was still adamant its just normal stuff. Since this is the third time weve had this go with stuff like this my Fiance and i have decided to find a new dr for our kids. We have an appointment for next week and i'm doing research to find a good ent to take them too. Thanks again.

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H.V.

answers from Johnson City on

Honestly I would seek a specialist! I worked for a pediatrician for 7 years and when cases would come in with chronic cases of strep at least 3 times the doctor would advise the parents to seek a specialist option. I hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.S.

answers from Memphis on

My neighbor's daughter had the same problem. Once she got her tonsils removed she has not had Strep since. This was the same case with me. I kept strep and a high fever when I was young. After the tonsils and adnoids were removed i was a different person. Good Luck. I hope this helps.

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T.L.

answers from Nashville on

Hi M.. Wow! You are one busy gal! My kids are 2 years apart, teenagers now, but I remember, and it gets busy!
My kids did not have strep that much, but my friends kid did. All the time...their Dr. told them the same thing. And that he would stop getting it so much as he got older. Well, that did happen by the time he was 6 years old! But, my word, what a lot to go through. I know Dr.'s are very cautious about taking out tonsils at a young age, but I think I would seek a second opinion. I have a great pediatrician in Cool Springs we have gone to all of our kids lives. I trust him very much.
If you would like his name, please let me know. Also, read up on it on www.webmd.com. You can find everything you want on that web site.
Hope this helps.
Blessings,
T.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.F.

answers from Lake Charles on

We went through this with my daughter(she is 4 now) She had strep once a month for 6 months. I finally insisted that my pediatrician refer us to a ENT. When he examined her he said that her tonsils were extremely large and holding infection. However, she was just barely 2 at the time and she weighed 24 pounds. He said he doesn't like to take tonsils out unless the child is 3 years old and at least 30 pounds. He sent us home to "fatten" her up because he said they really needed to come out and if she would gain 5 pounds he would consider it. Well, we managed to get her to gain 2 and the tonsils got more inflamed so he took them out when she was 2 1/2 and 26 pounds. I am not one to take surgery of any kind lightly but it was so worth it. She hasn't had a problem since.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from Fayetteville on

My neighbors daughter had the same problems. Turns out that people carry strep in their ears!!!???? Only the daughter was getting sick and their older son was carrying the strep in his ears and she came into contact with it frequently when they played. So... you might need to take everyone in to get checked. If the doctor you go to says this is silly, go to another one!! You don't want to go through surgery, and the remedy could be simple!

Good Luck and God Bless!

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D.S.

answers from Nashville on

Get a second opinion! Your daughter may have an abcess (not sure if I'm spelling that correctly) in her tonsils which traps bacteria and may be why she is so susceptible to an infection. I am not a medical professional, but a friend of mine just went through the same situation and her son ended up needing his tonsils out. Good luck and I hope your little one feels better soon!

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J.G.

answers from Johnson City on

I would recommend you taking her to a ENT(ear,nose, throat) doc. Sounds like she might need to have her tonsils out. Even though having a tonsilectomy does not cure it...it does cut it down big time. My daughter had to have it done. She has only had strep 2x since then and that has been over 1 1/2 yr. ago. It doesn't hurt to have her checked out and see if they can do something before resulting to surgery. Good luck!!

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M.G.

answers from Memphis on

Someone she is around could be a carrier of strep. A carrier doesn't necessarily have the signs and symptoms of strep but they are a carrier. If I were you I would get myself and my husband tested and anyone else who is around her on a continuous basis.

I know a family that their children kept getting it and it wound up her husband was a carrier of strep.

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M.D.

answers from Lake Charles on

If I were you it is better to get a second opinion. Because it doesn't hurt to be safe when it comes to your child. most doctors don't care or they care about is money. If you don't feel comfortable with that doctor it is better for you to seek another one.

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A.S.

answers from Pine Bluff on

When i was little (am now a 37 yr old mother of a 4 and a 6 year old) i had strep alot. many many times so that the doctor would give me a shot in my rear o f antibiotics. As an adult i still get it. Apparently some people are prone to it. But 2nd oppinions are always good. good luck, A.

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A.B.

answers from Monroe on

Well, I would use really good through cleaning of the sinks, change out her toothbrush, use a capful of bleach when washing the dishes to start out. Then I would be really careful to not have anyone drink after each other. Someone might be a carrier of strep. We had strep in our family 3 times in one fall and we were going to be tested to see if anyone was a carrier, but nobody came down with it again.
HTH Angie

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B.F.

answers from Birmingham on

Adenoids?
my sons (now 4 and 2) were both constantly sick until they had their adenoids partially removed when tubes were put in the ears. I am sure that the tubes have helped too - especially with the ears.

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L.M.

answers from Nashville on

Sounds like your little one may have allergy and sinus issues and would consult an Ear Nose and Throat doctor. Also, like others have said on here, one person can be the carrier and not have it, but give it to others, so it may be necessary to test everyone in the family too.

My children and I have had the same problem with strep, it's been chronic. I'm finding out, for us, that it has a lot to do with allergies. We have severe allergies, genetic in our family, and if we don't treat our allergies, then we end up with sinus infections and strep throat that never seem to go away. We can treat it and treat it, but it keeps coming back.

I finally had to have sinus surgery in 2001, back in Idaho where I am from, and I never knew I could feel so good. My doctor told me that he drained my sinus', it was the worse case he had seen in his career and that is why I always was feeling sick and run down, fluish, most of my life, even as a child. He said it was also the cause of all my sinus and strep throat infections that became chronic. He told me to stay on top of my allergies by treating them with allergy shots and taking medication, eventually I shouldn't have issues with allergies anymore.

Since my surgery, I have not had strep throat, have had one sinus infection, that has been treated and not come back. I am also getting my children into an ear nose and throat doctor here since they are having the same issues I was as a child. I have a 3yr old and a 12yr old. If we can treat the allergies, then I am hoping they will not always feel sick and run down, having to go through what I did as a child and most of my adult life.

Hope this view helps....

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J.S.

answers from Chattanooga on

I agree with Lora if you can go to an ENT w/o a referral go! If you need a referral, call your dr and tell them to refer you. They may question why, and just tell them you want a second opinion.
I know after I had strep 4 times in 3 months they removed my tonsils...not to say that is what they will do with your daughter, but I would certainly want a second opinion if I were you. Even if the ENT agrees with your DR at least you stop "wondering" what if I got a second opinion.

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L.L.

answers from Nashville on

If your insurance does not require you to go through your Primary Care Provider I would take her directly to an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor. If it does require a referral, you are the parent, tell the doctor that you want her to be seen by an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor, if he/she says no, that is when you find a 2nd opinion because at that point (in my opinion) the doctor is not looking out for the best interest of the child. Not to mention you have 2 other children at home that are being exposed every time she gets strep.

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D.H.

answers from Clarksville on

The main question is, are you giving every single dose of the antibiotic? Unless the strep infection is completely killed, it can come back and it can affect other organs such as the kidneys or heart. Other than that, wash your hands and theirs often. Especially the school age child and everyone that has been out in the public. Insurance won't pay for a tonsillectomy until it reaches a certain number of times in a year. You can also get strep even with the tonsils gone.

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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

I thought that I would tell you my story.
I was the one that kept getting strep throat. I would be well for about 2 weeks and then get it again. My dr was bumb-fuzzled. After the 3rd or 4th time, he said that everyone in my family needs to come to his office and get tested. Sure enough, my son was a carrier but wasn't sick. He had been slow and draggy lately but not sick. He took the same medicine and my strep throat stopped. AMAZING! I didn't know anything like that could happen.
Ask your dr about that.

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T.C.

answers from Lafayette on

I have a 9 year old and 19 month old boys. Both have this problem. Our pediatrician said they do something after 4 times in a 12 month period. Just had the 9 year olds tonsils and adenoids removed and now have an appointment with the same ENT for the 19 month old because he has had it non-stop since August. I would be firm with your doctor about wanting something done and if the doctor still chooses to act like it is nothing then maybe a second opinion wouldn't hurt. They just cannot stay that sick all the time and definately cannot live on antiobiotics either. Hope this helps!!

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A.K.

answers from Tulsa on

I would suggest you see and ear, nose & throat dr. My son had strep 6 times in about 8 months when he was 2 years old. His primary doc got concerned and sent him to the ENT. He had to have his tonsils removed at 2 1/2. The ENT said that he had the strep virus in his tonsils and kept giving it back to himself. I guess with kids like this, there is no way to get rid of the strep without getting rid of the tonsils. I was so glad that we ended up seeing the ENT because this even surprised our regular dr and she said she never would have guessed the problem. I think you should definately get a second opinion. Good luck and let me know what you find out.

A.

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K.A.

answers from Lake Charles on

it sounds like she needs to have her tonsils removed. the same thing happened to me, i had strep back to back so i went to an ear, nose, throat dr. and they said my tonsils should be removed. it's a day surgery, doesn't hurt that badly, and she shouldn't have anymore problems with strep throat again. Hope this helps.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I'd definitely get a second opinion, and depending on how that worked out, head for a specialist.

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