Recurrent Strep in 5 Year Old

My son had strep 4 times last year, and at one point the dr. did say that there was a resistant strain going around. I would definitely see if there was a different antibiotic she could take if she gets it again.

My son has been sick with ear infections, and also had strep off and on since October. This is a bad year for all of this.
While you are waiting to see if she is antibiotic resistant..I would build up her
immune system with probiotics, take her off any dairy products, and take her to a chiropractor/and or nutritionist. This is what we are doing, and I am seeing amazing changes take place. Cut out all soda, all sugar.
With every round of antibiotics, bad bacteria is coming back full force
unless you are nourishing the gut with good bacteria......
You may even cut way down on wheat too, give the body a chance to
fight and build itself up.
Keep putting whole foods into her body. Multi vitamin, extra C, etc....
make green smoothies: bannana, strawberry, a little orange juice...
add some spinach and kale (you can't taste it)

With all the kids that are sick, it keeps going round and round. Our only
defense is to build their immune systems up to fight it :-)

I never got strep as a child but have many times as an adult. Several times I needed multiple rounds of antibotics because it "never really went away". My son has had it a few times but nothing major. The important thing is do as many rounds of antibotics as necessary to get rid of it completely. My doctor said that penicillian is the best thing for strep and if one round doesn't do it, a different med should be given for the next round.

Two of my nephews have had multiple bouts, almost back to back. Both ended up having their tonsils out to help. The first is now an adult himself and the tonsils were removed when he was in elementary school. To his mom's surprise, he got strep again a time or two but not often or as bad. My other nephew just had them removed about 6 months ago and so far so good.

**Having tonsils out does not mean you can not get strep again. It does reduce the chances/opportunity for infection. Removing the tonsils only guarantees that you won't get tonsilitis again. Without the tonsils, they call is pharangistis instead.

***Also, be sure that once she has been on an antibotic for 48 hours (and therefore should not be contagious) that you get her a new toothbrush and throw the old one out.

As a teenager I used to get strep repeatedly and was supposed to have my tonsils removed (but I missed the appointment!) So that is probably an option they will look at during your ENT appt.

However, I would def. push your doctor to give your daughter stronger antibiotics. Even if amoxicillian used to take care of it, since she has had it so much it might not be as effective. I know that Augmentin is a very strong form which I would be requesting. However, if the doc does give you this one, make sure to also give her some probiotics. The culture results should give you more information.

If you aren't confident this doctor is dealing with this the way you want I would look for a second opinion.

IMO, the docs (in general) aren't giving the right amount of meds for this stuff! Either the dosage needs to be stronger (you didn't mention the strenghth) or taken longer - or both!

That being said, have you thought about having them give her a shot? I think that ensures that the strep gets a good round of meds and hopefully will break the cycle for her!

I don't know if this will help, but it should give you something to consider.

This happened to me, my sister, AND my brother for 2 whole winters while we were growing up. As soon as the weather started cooling off one of the three of us would get strep. At any given time at least one of us was on antibiotics until the spring warm up.

They tested us, our parents, and even our dog to see if one of us was a carrier (that is to say, we had the strep bacteria, but no symptoms). All tests were negative. My mom switched us to a different pediatrician. The second pediatrician recommended we see an ENT. As it turned out, all three of us had our tonsils removed (so that there was no place for the bacteria to "hide"). We haven't had strep since.

Best wishes!

My niece had strep all the time (she is 7). The ENT discovered that her adenoids (sp?) were HUGE and therefore always infected. She had her tonsils and adenoids removed over Christmas break. If your daughter's problem is similar, I'm sure the ENT will find it!

Someone she is in contact with all the time may be a carrier and not symptomatic. Have everyone in you household checked. Or it could be someone at school. so you cannot have all checked there. This happened to my sons friend his younger sister was a carrier but never showed signs of strep one more dose of antibiotics for him and a dose for her cured him

I have to agree with Annmarie - that is exactly what happened to me and my family. I have another friend going through the same thing. Just my two cents.

This happened to my 6 yr old this winter too. They had to put her on Cephalexin, one of the stronger medicines you can give them I guess. We have scheduled surgery for Feb 16 for a tonsillectomy. She has had strep the past 2 yrs 6 times. The doctor did seem to think that maybe someone at school had it and didn't have symptoms, we too at home were all checked. Good luck!!