Strep Throat AGAIN?! Seriously?!?!

Instead of just changing toothbrushes every month, are you changing them 3 days after the initial diagnosis and then 3 days after starting the round of antibiotics and AGAIN at the end of the antibiotics? That's what my doctor and my son's doctor both told us to do (also Lysol wipe the openings to toothpaste tubes). My oldest and I both had it at the beginning of December and again at the end/beginning of January. There seems to be a particularly nasty strain going around! I had Lysoled, washed, changed toothbrushes (once -after the sickness) and all of that, but evidently the toothbrush thing is a big deal as well as anything else that may possibly go in their mouths. Hope this is the end of it for you! It's been terrible this season!

This winter, strep has been worse than I recall, EVER. I have a 5-year old and a 3-year old, and I have taught fifth grade for 13 years, and I don't EVER recalling it this bad. My 5-year old had it in November, December, January, and one more time this month a couple of weeks ago. I'm taking her to an ENT on Friday to see what's up. My other daughter hasn't had it once, but did have an ear infection. We have all been tested for being carriers, and so far, none of us are. As I type this, I am home from work with my second round of strep in two weeks! I got a stronger antibiotic, so here's hoping it doesn't come back.

What I've been told is what others are saying; that some kids are just prone to it, that some strains don't ever really go away until a second round of antibiotics. I know, we all hate giving antibiotics back to back to back to our kids, but strep is dangerous if left untreated. I'm hoping the ENT has some positive things to say about my daughter, and as far as I go, I'm chalking it up to a horrible winter. I have been cleaning the house a lot too, and changing the sheets and toothbrushes just like you. In the end, it doesn't always matter!! I hope this is the last of it for you.

It may be the Strep isn't going completely away. Maybe the antibotic combats it, makes it seem better but is still lingering. If so, your kids will need two or three rounds straight (without a break) of antibotics to clear it up. That happened to me before.

Another possibility is that they are more vulnerable since they are just getting over it.

Because people send their kids to school sick all the time! The length of time between them getting sounds like they are not infecting each other or re infecting themselves just it goes around the schools a lot this time of the year. Teach them proper hygiene and how important it is not to touch your face.

Our pediatrician is Dr. Bain of Healthy Kids Pediatrics who encourages families to strengthen the immune system to prevent illnesses rather than constantly giving antibiotics to treat the symptoms. Antibiotics can actually break down the good bacteria in the stomach, causing more illness.

Dr. Bain wrote a book about how she has helped numerous families get their children well. It's on her website below.

To boost our childrens' immune systems we take Vitamin D daily (a few drops in their morning water/milk.) A few drops of Briar Rose (Available at Sprouts in Frisco or online), twice a week or twice a day if they are sick. A splash of Elder Berry twice a week. Dr. Bain also recommends probiotics for immune support, but we haven't done that yet.

Good luck!

Here's Dr. Bain's book.
http://healthykidspediatrics.com/Home/HealthNews/tabid/41...

A friend of mine had a similar situation, and it turned out (after months and months of recurrent infections in her kids) that she was a carrier with no symptoms. Could someone in your home be a carrier? Check out this article, especially #2. Everyone should be tested -- even the family dog.

http://www.medicinenet.com/sore_throat/page3.htm

I agree with Lynn. My daughter had the same problem until her pediatrician put her on a strong antibiotic for about a month straight. That finally got the bug out of her system. Talk to your pediatrician.

My son had strep twice last fall, and as was said below, our pediatrician gave us an antibiotic scrip for me and my husband because we could be carriers with no symptoms. Son hasn't had strep since - BUT mommy had a horrible yeast infection after the antibiotics. SO, I would suggest probiotics for the whole family - and if you are prone to yeast infections, get some meds from your doctor for that immediately or do whatever preemptive treatment that you prefer. This mommy was MISERABLE. Also, you can probably call your ped to get your prescriptions without having to pay for a doctor visit for yourself - just a thought. I'm no Frugal Fanny, but I do hate paying for extra doctor visits unnecessarily!

After reading all the responses below, I think I am going to put the whole family on probiotics and other supplements full time! Thanks for asking this question, and thanks to everyone for their responses!

We've been there as well...
Have you and/or your husband been checked? We were told that we could be "carriers" of strep without actually exhibiting symptoms. Just a thought...
My friends daughter had it 5 times in 5 months and now she is having her tonsils/adenoids out :(
Hope you guys get better soon!

I'm sorry this is happening to you, it is the pits. It does sound as if your immune systems are down, since strep is common around us all the time, but our body usually just fights it off.

I agree with the one of the previous posters about diet and taking out sugar. It's our immune system's biggest foe. I supplement my kids with vitamin D3 in the winter and cod liver oil and I give them chewable probiotics every day. My boys have been healthy for over two winters. Well, except my youngest recently because I was slacking on the supplements and sugar intake (Valentines candy...) sooooo, yes it does make a difference.

The other natural antibiotic and immune system booster you can take is Olive Leaf Extract (Barleans is one of the best brands and you can find it at most Whole Foods or supplement places). With so many antibiotic resistant bugs out there, sometimes help from good old mother nature will do the trick. There is a free booklet at their website you can read up on all the studies done on it: http://www.barleans.com/olive_leaf.asp

I can't stress how important probiotics are though. 70-80% of your immune system is in your intestinal tract. If you wipe out all of your good bacteria in your gut due to using antibiotics, the bad bacteria can get in and your immune system goes into a downward spiral.

Best wishes to you and your family to get better soon. I FEEL for you!

Maybe it is not being treated with the right antibiotic-and some children are just prone to it. When the antibiotic is given-it has to be in precise intervals-this gives it a better advantage to healing-and reduces the infections chances of survival. The structure of the throat and tonsils may be a contributing factor, as well. Then-the children must be retested 10 or so days after the end of the medication. Lastly-it may be time to go to a pediatric ENT. You should get tested also-you may be the carrier and never have symptoms. Do you have a dog? Guess what?

Do you have any pets (cats/dogs)?
I've heard some people have to have the kids and pets treated at the same time otherwise they'll keep re-infecting each other.
Soon as you take the kids to the Dr, take the pets to the vet.
The other thing is - there are more strep strains that are more resistant to antibiotics. We are just not healing up as fast or as completely as we remember. Prevention is going to become very important.