my 4 year old had strep 15x this year!

amother

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 1:01 am

How long in between each event?
It could be that she is never really getting rid of all the bacteria - ie. she might need a stronger antibiotic. Or she might be a carrier and the bacteria just live in her throat, that can be taken care of a lot of times by taking a longer course (3 months) of antibiotics.
Ask your doctor and if their answer doesn't satisfy you, make your way to an ENT.

BeershevaBubby

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 1:50 am

It's possible she's in daily contact with someone who is a strep carrier.

My brother's best friend was a carrier, which meant that HE never got sick, but my brother was getting sick frequently.

My aunt had at least one child who was a carrier, which meant that she pretty much always had one kid sick at home.

Liba

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 2:22 am

Fifteen times seems like they aren't clearing the strep at all. Have you had clean cultures between the positive ones?

I would go to an ENT and get appropriate treatment (I had to have a month long coarse of two antibiotics once for strep) to get rid of the strep and then see if it keeps coming back after.

Refuah shelayma!!

ElTam

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 2:43 am

I agree with having the rest of the family checked to see if someone is a carrier. AFAIK, the child who had it 14x wouldn't be a carrier, because if you are a carrier, you don't get sick from it. Just like when they test your for Strep B when you are PG. People don't even know they are, and you don't get treated for it when you test positive, they treat by birth to protect the baby.

happy2Bamommy

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 3:11 am

There are a few things that make strept live in the body and the person can be on antibiotics all their life and still not get rid of it. 2 of the main things that strept live on are dairy and chocolate. Try to keep ur child off these products and the strept will be gone in no time. After the child is rid of the strept start working on boosting the immune system so that the child should be able to fight any bacteria in general without going on antibiotics. The best way to start boosting the immune system is by giving the child acedophilus which helps the body rebuild all the good bacteria that was killed with the antibiotics. It can be purchased in a health food store and comes with clear instructions.
Another thing to understand is that most strept bacteria start in the stomach. Usually it starts from eating not too healthy foods. Ur the mom and only u know what ur child eats so its not for me to say if the child is eating healthy or not but if u feel there is a way to make the child eat healthier foods it would be very beneficial in this area.
Lots of luck and refuah sheleima!
lots of nachas from ur child(ren).

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 3:17 am

There was one year in elementary school that I got strep all the time. It was so bad that once when I told the teacher I didn't come yesterday because I had strep, she actually called my mother to find out why I really didn't come - she thought I was lying, since I was using the same excuse so often.

After that year, my parents bought a water filter, and we all switched to filtered water. The next time I got strep was 10 years later!

I can't explain why it worked, but it definitely did.

Liba

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 3:19 am

happy2Bamommy wrote:

Acidophilus is a good idea.

The rest I don't know about, but I do know that the bacteria we are discussing is step or streptococcus not strept.

happy2Bamommy

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 3:26 am

Liba, I'm sorry about the spelling of the streptococcus. I'm typing from a phone and its "correcting" or rather assuming what I want to write. I understood that she's referring to streptococcus. Apologies....

happy2Bamommy

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 3:28 am

kb wrote:

Did u just use filtered water or was it by chance alkaline water? If its alkaline water then it makes sense that u got rid of the streptococcus because alkaline water boosts the immune system.

amother

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 9:05 am

Liba wrote:

we've had clean cultures imbetween. I've had the family tested as well. It started when she went to playgroup. Since playgroup ended (she was on medicine through the end of playgroup)we had a play date with one friend (from the playgroup) and then boom strep.

Barbara

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 9:41 am

amother wrote:

Liba wrote:

If it makes you feel better, that was my DS in kindergarten. We figured some kid was a carrier, or never getting treated, and kept reinfecting DS. All these years later, he still jokes about "oh no, not the stick (strep test) AGAIN!" But he's only had strep once or twice since that year.

chatouli

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 9:50 am

I had strep 18x in 2 years. I missed a lot of 5th grade because of it. My parents finally took me to an ENT who said my tonsils absolutely had to come out. I have had strep once since then.

Something to think about maybe - I remember I hated the antibiotics. I hated the liquid one and then I learned to take pills, but I hated taking the pills too. So I used to hide them and pretend I had taken them once I was feeling better. embarrassed

This caused the infection to stay and become resistant to antibiotics. Make sure your child is taking the antibiotics in front of you.

ETA oops I just saw your DC is 4 - missed that before. I assume your child is definitely taking the antibiotics in front of you Smile

naomi2

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 12:19 pm

I want to point out that your pediatritian doesnt seem to be able to handle this properly. if your DC had strep 15X HE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO OTHER METHODS OF TREATMENT!. ITS UNACCEPTABLE. I would see a specialist or get another opinion from a different pediatrician. good luck!!

amother

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 6:23 pm

Consider switching antibiotics. I've had strep 7 times in the past 1.5 years which for an adult is quite rare. After the sixth I finally had enough thinking I must be building up immunity to the drug. It (has hopefully) worked. Also, have her start taking probiotics again to make sure she's got good bacheria in her to fight the infection. Her body must be exhausted at this point and probably needs outside help. Now in summer is also the time to make sure she gets sun for the vitamin D benefits.

baker1

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 9:33 pm

My Ds also had a crazy amount of strep this year, probably about every 2 weeks b"h we finally got rid of it. He b"h has not had it in the last 2 months!!!!!!!!!!!. We went through all kinds of diff. options:

1. tested entire family made sure nobody was giving the strep to him....
we all came out neg.

2. my doc. then tried to figure out if he was a carrrier, put him on med. for 3 weeks and had him tested 4 days after he finished the meds. ..... still came out pos.

3. he then, said one more try and then out goes the tonsils- he put him on med. for 1 week, then off for 1 week , then on for 1 more week and that b"h got rid of it!!!!

My doc said that once a kid catches it a couple of times his body will be very prone to catching it.
I had the same thing with my older son but not for so long, once the warm weather came it also helped.

hatzlacha!!

ra_mom

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 9:39 pm

I agree with naomi2.

If your pediatrician gave your 4 year old antibiotics 15 times this year, s/he is highly incompetant. After a number of times, s/he should have discussed other things like testing, going to an infectious disease doctor, an ENT, etc.

You must find your child a new doctor. ASAP.