Reoccuring Throat Infection

My 8 year old daughter has a reoccuring throat infection that requires antibiotics.  She took 7 or 8 rounds of it last year and again this year seems to be getting it again.  I do not want her to build up antibodies or become allergic to it.  I know antibiotics are good here and there, but too much isn't good for you and if I can find a way to help her avoid her throat infections, I'd like to eliminate the need for antibiotics.  She is healthy (other than this), she gets enough sleep, she excercises a lot, she takes a multivitamin, I've been giving her vitamin d (we live where there isn't a lot of sun) and we do not have cats.  We do have friends with cats that we visit occassionally.
Ok, so enough of that...last year it was almost like clockwork and again right now. Almost every month (almost the same day each month) she would get a slightly runny nose with congestion (nasal sound when talking), a cough that sounds unlike anything I can describe, a low grade fever, sore throat with orange bumps all over it. She still has her adnoids and tonsils.  Her Ped said, with a quick look, that it is the "run of the mill" throat infection and perscribed AZITHROMYCIN and it clears it up. He has never taken a swab. Once we didn't go for RX and she develped pneumonia.  
Questions are...what could this be?  why does she keep getting it? and what can we do to prevent it?  
Also, if we go back to the Dr. should I ask for a swab?

[geminigirl1963]

Since she still has her tonsils and adenoids (adenoids), I'd definitely suggest consulting with an ENT and seeing about having those removed - it could definitely at least drastically reduce her throat infections.  It sounds like she's having a chronic problem with tonsilitis.

I would say, too, that next time it happens, it would be a good idea if you could convince the doctor to do a throat swab since he's not done one before - it could be that perhaps the antibiotic she's been receiving is not the right antibiotic for the type of infection she's getting, even though it seems to help the symptoms - could be that it's just enough to basically send the infection into "remission" so to speak, but then shortly after she's finished a course of it, the infection returns.

Best of luck!

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

How about trying to act at the preventive end? Avoid contact with people suffering from throat infections. Diet which is well balanced with adequate proteins and non-refined carbohydrates with plenty of fruits and vegetables will build up her immunity. In addition, let her have good physical activity to increase her appetite and boost up stamina.

Repeated strep throat infections are an indication for tonsillectomy, as the tonsils may harbor the infection which keeps flaring up, or they may develop new infections. Please discuss this with your doctor am sure he will provide further assistance.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[whatsup69]

Her food choices put me to shame :)...lots of fruits, veggies, loves yogurt and eats whole grain cereals and breads.  The only thing we have to remind her about drinking enough water.  We understand how important water is to help cleanse your body of toxins...ect. She averages 6-8 hours of structured exercise a week.  We also ensure she takes her daily vitamins on a regular basis.  
She can't avoid school or kids at sports, but if we know people are sick with anything, we try to keep her away.  We have also quit allowing her over to people's houses that don't maintain the cleanliness standards that we find safe for her (hope that didn't sound snooty, lol). We are trying anything!  I feel like we are failing to "figure it out" somehow.

Her bumps are on the literal back of her throat, not her tonsils.  If you don't see the infection/bumps on the tonsils, are they part of the problem?  

Her doc said the couple of times he "looked" that it was the "run of the mill throat infection, not strep."  He's been in practice for a really long time and I assume he knows what he's talking about, but I'm tired of her being on antibiotics.  

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Good to see her food choices. The only other thing are sleep habits, she needs to get adequate sleep. The commonest pathogen (agent) causing throat infections is a group A Streptococcus bacteria. Besides this Group B Streptococcus, mycoplasma, neisseria and  cornybacterium  are known to cause throat infections. Other known pathogens causing infections of the throat are viral and yeast (candida).

The reason for elaborating about these pathogens is that the tests done and the therapy initiated vary for the listed pathogens. To begin with a throat swab is taken to see for streptococcus. If needed a throat culture will show the growth and the antibiotics to which the pathogens are most susceptible to. During culture it would be worthwhile to test for yeast infections also besides bacterial infections. Viral infections are by exclusion and do not need any antibiotic therapy unless there are super added infections. The antibiotic of choice for a streptococcal infection is penicillin but azithromycin is also effective.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.