Strep Carrier

Are you finishing the antibiotics?
That's a must!

Take your son to an ENT specialist. I recommend Dr. Timothy Trone at Medical City. I once was told that I had strep 12 times in a period of 14 months - it was just as you describe; once I would get better, within days I was becoming ill again. At one point, my quack dr decided that perhaps it was psychological - like you would just think up those high fevers. Finally a co-worker did the same as I and related a story of suffering of another and how it was fixed by the ENT. One visit to the ENT and five minutes into the exam he could tell me my problem. I had strep all down my esophogus. The doctor was taking a swab in the wrong place and thus could not diagnose that I had strep, although if he had looked in my throat he could have seen the strep covering the lining of the esophogus. Because the dr could not diagnose the strep, he never gave me enough medicine. So I did not really have it 12 times; I just never got well during the 14 months. The ENT gave me a powerful antibiotic and within 48 hours I was 80% better and within a week I was completely well. So, try an ENT. Dr. Trone saved my daughter this year and he's great, as well as his partner. You need to get this problem solved because it's very dangerous for you to be exposed while you are pregnant.

My sis got strep all the time as a child. One time she got it repeatedly like your son. My mom noticed our dog wasn't feeling too well and took her to the vet around the same time. Wouldn't you know it was the vet who told my mom that the dog had strep too and my sis and dog were passing the infection back and forth. My mom had them both on antibiotics at the same time and all was well. My sis still got strep more often than other kids, but she grew out of it after elementary school and still has her tonsils. Good luck.

When I was little, my doc told me the same thing. He threatened to remove my tonsils if I had one more positive that year (30 years ago). I still have my tonsils. But there are other things to do. If you have animals, esp. a dog, get them tested for strep. Try to sterilize everything that he has put in his mouth (boil them for 20 min if possible). As mentioned, new toothbrush and a referral to a pediatric ENT can help too. Probiotics are good at rebalancing his "good" bacteria internally, but may not help with his current symptoms. Watch out for a rash, as if there is untreated strep in him it will become a rash. Otherwise, start insisting on cultures, as they not only tell you for certain which type of bacteria you are dealing with but also which antibiotic will be most effective.

Try to strengthen his immune system. If you are still nursing, DON'T stop. If not, see if any good friends who are nursing could give you expressed milk.

Lastly, a low grade fever could indicate a viral infection. So you may want to let it go untreated. Unless he is very uncomfortable or his fever is about 100.2, let it go untreated. Keep him well hydrated with water (forget juices & sodas). No junk food. Lots of fruits & veggies. And insist on naps/down-time for rest.

Yes, heard the same from my sons doctor and the doctors almost killed him with antibiotics. Take him to an allergy doctor who specialize in children. My son turned out to have a reaction to certain dust particles and ealry sinus developement problems. NEXT ! Doctors do not tell you about the damage antibiotics cause. Learn about probiotics and how they offset the damage antibiotics cause. Find a good health food store and obtain LIVE cultures and get these into you child. Antibiotics lead to yeast infection and total body yeast infection. Thrush and diaper rash are bascially a yeast infection! Any female that has taken 3 or more courses of antibiotics over a lifetime are at danger of total body yeast infections. Again, get on line, RESEARCH. Don't always take the doctors word as the only word. Learn to research, write down questions and demand they get answered!

HAve you changed his toothbrush?

I am a strep carrier. I always had it as a kid then around 13 or 14, i just stopped getting it, i know i am still a strep carrier, bc when i had my kiddos i had to be given the atibotics by iv. I just remember always going to the dr about once a month and them telling me i had strep, finally the dr told me i was a carrier, i turned out fine though, and the only one of my 3 sisters who is a carrier and still has my tonsiels.