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Help!3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7 yr olds with no tonsils/adenoids

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Help!3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7 yr olds with no tonsils/adenoids

Posted by
Lisa on January 07, 2003 at 23:28:20:

I have read every post I could find on strep here. History: Oct 2001, then 6 yr old had tonsils/adenoid removed after persistent strep. Positive rapid streps. (then 3 yr old was being infected also, but was not in school/daycare,etc.), much improved despite known repeated exposure. Oct 2002-present(Jan 2003), both children have had repeated positive rapid streps pretty much every other week and every "normal" antibiotic has been tried, the strongest being Augmentin 600 which had some success in clearing the infection temporarily. In Dec, now 4 yr old had tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. Throat culture was negative right before surgery while on Augmentin 600. Now 7 yr old woke up same night of 4 yr old's surgery with vomiting and strep symptoms again. 4 yr old came down with red spots after about a week of vague symptoms. I have been keeping a journal the last several days during the most recent round of antibiotics. The physical symptoms appear to start with enlarged blood vessels in the back of the throat, sometimes the tiny red spots on soft palate, then progresses to tiny clear blisters/fire engine red throat. The blisters start on the very back of throat and then usually next day move to the soft palate. The whole process seems to work from the back of the throat to the front. Sometimes white patches are in back of throat/sides of arch. This has all been accompanied by many of the usual symptoms of strep, headache, stomachache, rash, etc. This latest round, they were both strong positives on the rapid strep, started on Zithromax. Had no effect on 7 yo, while 4 yo seemed to improve for 3 days then skin rash reappeared and was more severe. Pediatrician switched them to Augmentin 600. Again has had no effect on 7 yo, and 4 yo was much improved by the 6th day at which time the only evidence was a small area of the tiny red spots on left of soft palate. The next day, day 7, the back of the throat started all over again and she is on a downward spiral once again. 7 yo is still suffering. My husband and I apparently contracted it as our throats look exactly the same, but our DO put him on Biaxin (this will probably be resistant to that) and not me (mine took a little longer to look bad). I have an appt with another dr tomorrow. The pediatrician referred us to an immunologist (they both have allergies, the younger one has already been evaluated) at the end of the month. Also, the pediatrican feels that the strep infection could be in the 7 yo's sinuses and has twice now taken her off her allergy medicine to allow the infection to drain while on an antibiotic. She has also had the associated sinus discomfort, headache, ear pain, etc. Meanwhile, all this is definitely interfering with the 7 yo's functioning at school and just in life in general. The child has become borderline irrational. They are on a chewable vitamin with extra C. I am desperately seeking answers. Can anyone help?



Re: Help!3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7 yr olds with no tonsils/adenoids

Posted by Walt Stoll on January 08, 2003 at 09:51:06:

In Reply to: Help!3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7 yr olds with no tonsils/adenoids posted by Lisa on January 07, 2003 at 23:28:20:

Hi, Lisa.

In MY opinion, the child's "downward spiral" is due to all the antibiotics he has had. Probiotics and a PWFD (perfect whole foods diet) would make a wolrd of difference in this child in just a month--with more benefits to follow.

It is possible that all this treatment has complidated the issue by precipitating C-RS (candida-related syndrome) but that may have to be faced in a month depending on how he is doing.

See the glossary and then the archives for any unfamiliar terms.

Walt



Dr Stoll Re: Help!3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7

Posted by John on January 12, 2003 at 22:11:22:

In Reply to: Help!3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7 yr olds with no tonsils/adenoids posted by Lisa on January 07, 2003 at 23:28:20:

But what should this mother have done for the strep throats if giving him antibiotics was harmful? What would have worked in their place?



Dr Stoll Re: Help! 3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7 (Archive in strep

Posted by Walt Stoll on January 13, 2003 at 16:17:55:

In Reply to: Dr Stoll Re: Help!3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7 posted by John on January 12, 2003 at 22:11:22:

Hi, John.

For the viral pharyngitides, they would have gone away in a week or so with no treatment and would have gone away in 7-10 days with the most expensive antibiotics.

The only bacterial pharyngitis worth treating is streptococcus group B, which is associated with rheumatic fever. Interestingly enough, much research tells us that even this treasured conventional belief does not work: Treating strep group B does not prevent any more rheumatic fever than not treating it.

Therefore, the answer to your question is nothing but symptomatic treatment. To prevent recurrance, a WFD is probably the best thing.

Have you seen the strep throat archives?

Walt

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Update on strep kids...interesting developments!

Posted by Lisa on January 16, 2003 at 09:48:46:

In Reply to: Re: Help!3 mos recurrent/resistant strep in 4 and 7 yr olds with no tonsils/adenoids posted by Walt Stoll on January 08, 2003 at 09:51:06:

After both tested positive AGAIN on the rapid strep and we finished ANOTHER round of Augmentin 600, the 4 yo cleared up quickly but no change in the 7 yo one. On day 6 of the antibiotic, the 4 yo started getting red throat and blisters again. I called the pediatrician and he wanted to send out more antibiotics until we see the immunologist (his idea). He called them in but I decided to wait and see because I felt there was just no way! The 4 yo had a followup visit with the ENT and I asked him to do a throat culture for anything and everything (the pediatrician was getting such strong positives on the rapid streps I guess he didn't feel the cultures were necessary.) It came back completely normal. So, I waited some more and once they went back to school the improved steadily and by the end of the week were feeling great! In the end, I believe the younger one MAY have had strep (not convinced), the antibiotic did seem to clear her up, but I believe they probably both had a viral thing on top of it. I had the same thing, exhaustion was a huge part of it, and it took weeks to run it's course--suddenly one day I felt like a new person again. I think they are getting false positives on these rapids or it's picking up the antigen or something. I will insist on a culture from now on. And I'm doing lots of research on nutrition!

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