, Can Recurrent Strep Throat Increase Susceptibility to Allergies?

From a scientific standpoint...I don't know that strep really does. That being said, I HATE antibiotics (I think sometimes they are the lesser of two evils and there are times I am VERY grateful for them...but I think they are way overused). There have been studies that have linked antibiotics to allergies (I don't know all the details however). My son had strep throat 4 times over a month and a half last year...eventually getting his tonsils out. I know strep can lead to some nasty complications...so I was somewhat quick to get him on antibiotics...looking back...I wish I'd tried something else first. The antibiotics did not do good things to his little body. I have successfully used essential oils for sinus infections, ear infections...all kinds of other things - many of which most people would use antibiotics for. I really wish i'd tried that first before putting him on antibiotics repeatedly. I rarely use conventional medicines - over the counter or prescriptions. I still kind of kick myself for not sticking to that when it came to strep. But...it is what it is...:/. I have heard that in general people have gotten sicker recently because it was a warmer winter...that may also have something to do with it.

actually, it can go the other way around. If you deal with chronic &/or seasonal allergies, then your throat is susceptible to being irritated, inflamed, & not healthy. That inflammation can cause pockets which can trap debris/germs/misc - thereby leaving a fertile playing field for strep.

I kid you not! This is exactly how my dr described it to me! :) This is my life. My tonsils are huge. I am on my 2nd round of strep in 2 months. I am not a happy camper. 1st round was debilitating....fever, chills, body aches....had to shutdown my daycare for 2 days. This time has been zero fever nor other symptoms...other than the toxic throat.

In my case, amoxicillin & kflex? are pointless. Give me a Zpack any day! & I think you are right in assuming the amox was not strong enough for your son....especially on the 2nd go-round. Pump up the allergy meds & try to keep him clear....that's the best you can hope for. (I'm taking Zyrtec, Singulair, use my inhaler as needed, + I just started on a nasal spray to try to help clear my tubes. Yuck.)

It is Spring.
This is a time of allergies... to airborne things outside. Pollen, dust, and the wind, really fly around at this time of year.
I know, I have seasonal allergies. And in my State we also have the volcanic "vog" air too. So this all exacerbates people with these types of allergies. The wind, really can blow all kinds of things into the air, EVEN from places far away.
For example: the active volcano in my State, is on the island of Hawaii. I live on the island of Oahu, which is 1 hour away by plane. BUT.... on my island we do get the volcanic "vog " air too on certain days. (Vog is the "smog" which is volcanic in origin).
Airborne irritants can come from anywhere outside. That is the point.
So though you may think that nothing in his home or school environment changed... the weather and wind currents and plants/trees/flowers are all changing now. And he goes outside too.

Tip: whenever your son comes home or into the house... make sure he changes his clothes, because, pollen that is unable to be seen by the naked eye can be clinging to a person's clothing. And thus, makes them get their allergy symptoms even if they are back in the house.

Get an air purifier for his room, or for the house.
That is what my parents did for me, when I was a child.

And yes... seasonal allergies or any allergy, can arise at any time, or at any age or during any season.

its probably just allergies, strep has NOTHING to do with allergies, i used to have them bad but not any more, they CAN come on out of no where if something has changed and with the super mild winter this year nothing had a chance to die off and came back with avengence this year

not sure about the strep but allergies can definatley just develop even if youve never had them.. my 26 yr old fiance never in his life had allergies.. last spring he had them, nothing too bad but definatley noticable since hes never had them before on days when the pollen was high hed definatley be a little sniffly .. now this year theyre horrible hes been taking zyrtec everyday since it started ... if he doesnt take it hes just all snotty and stuffed up and itchy eyed all day

Updated

not sure about the strep but allergies can definatley just develop even if youve never had them.. my 26 yr old fiance never in his life had allergies.. last spring he had them, nothing too bad but definatley noticable since hes never had them before on days when the pollen was high hed definatley be a little sniffly .. now this year theyre horrible hes been taking zyrtec everyday since it started ... if he doesnt take it hes just all snotty and stuffed up and itchy eyed all day

It was pretty bad here this sping, even I am taking Claritin and I don't have bad allergies. My husband is miserable.
I think NJ is about 3-4 weeks behind us, our tulips and daffodils have been long dead and the oaks have been out for a while now. So it is getting better. Now we have the grasses to deal with.

I don't now if strep causes allergies. More like the allergens and pollen is very high. We can develop allergies to anything at any time.

And good for you for going to the Urgent Care. We had a similar problem and the doctor asked me if I had gone to medical school after I asked NOT to be prescribed amoxilcillin for my son. That was the last time we went to him.

This spring shouldn't be used in your determination. Mild winter means an early and heavy dose of pollen.

I had strep yearly all through my teens and early twenties. I don't have allergies.

I don't really know about your son's case, but just wanted to share my sister's experience. At 39, she had recurrent/resistant strep and was finally diagnosed with allergies, basically to everything. What they told her is that allergies cause inflammation, which can make a person susceptible to all kinds of infections. My sister recently was eating foods she was allergic to and had a recurrent case of pink eye. So, when you're up for it, I would probably consult another pediatrician or an allergist, especially if the strep persists or he has some other infection. Good luck.