I am so sick of paying the Dr's when they are guessing on my kids all the time!

[lasab]

I just thought I would chime in on strep and tonsilectomies (sp). When my DD was in 1st grade she kept getting strep. The rapid test would be positive, she would go on antibiotics, get better and then 2 weeks later the cycle would start over again. Her ped had me take her to the ENT because she needed her tonsils removed. I love our ENT and have had a lot of experience with him due to ear problems with my son.

Anyway, the ENT did NOT remover her tonsils. He felt that she really hadn't had strep 5 times but that it was the same strep infection that had never been completly cleared up. He prescribed a 1/2 dose of antibiotics for 30 days. He warned me that the pharmacy would not be happy about filling the prescription because it was very out of the ordinary. He said that doing the antibiotics for 30 days works about 50% of the time in kids with reoccuring strep and that he thought it would be worth a try. Well it worked...she never had strep again.

I hope, hope, hope that your little one gets feeling better soon...hugs and prayers from me.

[CouponQueen23]

I just thought I would chime in on strep and tonsilectomies (sp). When my DD was in 1st grade she kept getting strep. The rapid test would be positive, she would go on antibiotics, get better and then 2 weeks later the cycle would start over again. Her ped had me take her to the ENT because she needed her tonsils removed. I love our ENT and have had a lot of experience with him due to ear problems with my son.

Anyway, the ENT did NOT remover her tonsils. He felt that she really hadn't had strep 5 times but that it was the same strep infection that had never been completly cleared up. He prescribed a 1/2 dose of antibiotics for 30 days. He warned me that the pharmacy would not be happy about filling the prescription because it was very out of the ordinary. He said that doing the antibiotics for 30 days works about 50% of the time in kids with reoccuring strep and that he thought it would be worth a try. Well it worked...she never had strep again.

I hope, hope, hope that your little one gets feeling better soon...hugs and prayers from me.

I find this to be very interesting, how I would love to suggest this the next time we see a Dr. I am thinking like CW&M Mom mentioned to see if one of us in the house just may be a carrier of the strep. Then see if we can rid it from ever reoccuring. It is awful to see them in pain and not a hole lot we can do and not getting the nubing drops the Dr perscribed. His is getting back to him self. His appitite is just about back and he has not complained about his throat so far so good. Yeah nothing ever came about if the Perscription the Dr wrote the pharmacy or Dr never has called back about it.

[lasab]

I find this to be very interesting, how I would love to suggest this the next time we see a Dr. I am thinking like CW&M Mom mentioned to see if one of us in the house just may be a carrier of the strep. Then see if we can rid it from ever reoccuring. It is awful to see them in pain and not a hole lot we can do and not getting the nubing drops the Dr perscribed. His is getting back to him self. His appitite is just about back and he has not complained about his throat so far so good. Yeah nothing ever came about if the Perscription the Dr wrote the pharmacy or Dr never has called back about it.

I thought it was very interesting as well. And it wasn't something that my pediatrician was aware of (and I really like my ped). The thing is....it worked. It was so nice to have 30 days of medication instead of a surgery. Perhaps if you end up seeing an ENT you can mention it. I would never have believed it if it hadn't happened to me.

Good luck!

[cintinative]

I will confess to not having read all the comments here. I am with others that said that maybe it's time to think about a new pediatrician. But, I also want to encourage you to go with your gut where your child is concerned. You know better than anyone what a cold looks like, what something more than a cold looks like, what behavior is normal/abnormal, etc. My son had rectal strep twice. The second time we brought him in the doctor said, "you know, it doesn't look that bad." but she trusted my feeling about it and went ahead and did a culture. And it was strep. It is very possible to get strep back to back. You can get it, and then catch another strain, or never really get better the first time, or reinfect yourself with a toothbrush, etc. (BTW, I read somewhere you can disinfect them in the dishwasher--not sure if it really works but I've tried it).

I don't understand doctors that require a follow up after an antibiotic. Mine doesn't. I figure I will bring him back in if his symptoms return. I think it's just a bid for more money. So I totally agree with you there. Odds are good your child will pick something new up in the waiting room anyway right? So why chance it? =)

Anyway, I hope you figure it all out and don't worry, you are not a bad mom!!

[amys]

Another thing to know - some antibiotics are better suited to clearing up some infections, more so than others.
Penicillin is a catch-all antibiotic that IMO is over-prescribed, and it can work for many things, but I won't take it for a sinus infection - it takes too long to do the job, and sometimes it won't kill the infection completely before the pills are gone.

Do some research on anitibiotics and what they are each best for treating, then ask your doctor specifically for that antibiotic.

I can't think off the top of my head which antibiotic is best for a strep infection - sorry.

And yes, some antibiotics work better than others for certain people. But I would say either you child needs a different, stronger antibiotic, or a longer dose. And definitely a new pedi.

[CW&M Mom]

I will confess to not having read all the comments here. I am with others that said that maybe it's time to think about a new pediatrician. But, I also want to encourage you to go with your gut where your child is concerned. You know better than anyone what a cold looks like, what something more than a cold looks like, what behavior is normal/abnormal, etc. My son had rectal strep twice. The second time we brought him in the doctor said, "you know, it doesn't look that bad." but she trusted my feeling about it and went ahead and did a culture. And it was strep. It is very possible to get strep back to back. You can get it, and then catch another strain, or never really get better the first time, or reinfect yourself with a toothbrush, etc. (BTW, I read somewhere you can disinfect them in the dishwasher--not sure if it really works but I've tried it).

I don't understand doctors that require a follow up after an antibiotic. Mine doesn't. I figure I will bring him back in if his symptoms return. I think it's just a bid for more money. So I totally agree with you there. Odds are good your child will pick something new up in the waiting room anyway right? So why chance it? =)

Anyway, I hope you figure it all out and don't worry, you are not a bad mom!!

We always throw out toothbrushes and toothpaste and wash anything around where the toothbrush was. I also clean all the bedding and disinfect the bed. Do it after they have been on abx for at least 24 hours..cause you can keep reinfecting yourself with the Tbrush and toothpaste.

[angeliainwonderland]

I agree with the find a new Doc but as I live in a very rural area I understand if you can't. We actually drive 45 miles to an extremally good doc for the seruis stuff and we have a pretty good nurse practituioner 10 miles away for minor stuff. So I am lucky to have found 2 very caring docs.
Not to scare you and I know you are trying to get your kids better; But always be careful with strep. I have a very close friend who had strep as a child. It was untreated and kept recurring. Not due to Doc due to lazy momma (she told me this herself and sooooo not saying you are like this) Anyway it spread to his kidney. He ended up with kidney failure and was on dialysis for 4+ years. then he recieved a transplant. All is good now. But just wanted you to be aware Strep is seriuos in many ways.
Good luck!