severe sore throat

[firecatstyle]

My 15 month old has a sore throat that is so bad he refuses to eat or drink. We took him to the doctor and he checked his ears and throat  so fast that the total time spent with us was 5 minutes tops. As he was walking out the door he says he is calling in a script for an antibiotic for ear infection.  In my confusion and crying child in arm I should have said stop and take time to thoroughly check my child but did not. He has been on antibiotic for three days now and is still crying and holding his throat. He is also getting his lower molers in. Fever was 103.4  and can not sleep due to pain every time he swallows. Fever is down but still not sleeping for more than an hour at a time. We are forcing fluids with a dropper.  I really feel that this is more to do with throat than ears. Anyone know what might be wrong and what I can do?

[colemomma]

All I can tell you is to please, please be very careful about letting it go very much longer without another opinion.  One of my sons developed a severe case of strep after a having an episode much like you are describing.  It started out as an ear infection according to the doctor, though he did say it could be strep, but the strep titer was negative at the time.  He was put on antibiotic but continued to worsen.  He became very weak, dark circles under his eyes.  He went through 2 kinds of antibiotic and still no results.  This was around Christmas, and on Christmas morning he cut his toe on a toy.  A few days later the cut on his toe became "oozing" with what looked like infection to me.  So once again we made a trip to the doctor and they swabbed his toe and check him over again.  It turned out that he had strep infection throughout his little body and it was actually coming out his toe!  I was so freaked out because they suddenly became concerned about it turning into scarlet fever, etc.  The antibiotic they had put him on was resistant to strep.  Just wanted you to know the possibilites, but hopefully your little one will be well soon.  Best wishes and God bless!

[firecatstyle]

Thank you so much for your reply. We took him to his regular doctor today and they said his ears looked fine but they think it was most likely strep and possibly scarlet fever. They also did not think that the other doctor at the Mediquik took the proper steps for a young child, confirming my doubt. We are waiting for him to finish the antibiotic to see if all symptoms subside. I will be sure to take him back to the doctor if I feel even a bit of something is bothering him.  
I never knew that strep could be in the body and not detected through a throat swab. By posting this and your reply I am sure it will help others that would not have known either.
  Thank God for your son cutting his toe so that you found out about the strep. I would think it could have even led to sepsis. I think in any case with our babies that we as parents know when something is not right and should always go with our gut feeling. It is better to be the over protective worrisome mom than to risk our childrens health.  Bless you and your babies.
  

[colemomma]

I pray your little one comes through with flying colors!  I completely agree with being over protective.  It's our job as parents to be overly concerned with everything concerning our precious babies!  Because if we aren't, who will be?  Have a great day and I will be praying for your little one!