Reoccurring strep throat

[Klcoug88]

Currently I'm nursing the boyfriend through yet another episode of strep throat. I think he's had it at least three times this month alone. He's taken several different antibiotics as well as steroids on top of them to push it along but it enevitably comes back a week or two later.
Has anyone experienced strep in this manner? What could cause it to come back so frequently? Does anyone know of any treatments that work to make it shorter or to relieve pain and symptoms? It is getting very frustrating for him and it's difficult for me to watch when he's in so much pain!

[mkh9]

Hi again, Glad your boyfriend is feeling better. I hope he continues to improve.
I wanted to mention that it isn't that you guys are unclean just that the bacteria may be left on his toothbrush or other items that go in the mouth or could reinfect him. Also, you or someone else even a child can be a carrier. You may want to get tested to see if you carry it or have been around the same people or children a lot and may be getting it from them. Also, his immune system could be low. But if this antibiotic works it probably is a resistant strain. Keep me posted.
take care,
mkh9

[Klcoug88]

Nope! Still no fever. Hes feeling a tiny bit better this morning.. He's able to talk but still pretty miserable. His doctor said to continue to take the medicine and give it another day unless it continues to get worse so I'll just be watching and seeing how he does but it looks like it may finally be improving... We shall see. Woo! It's been a long couple of days! Again, thanks so much. I will post if anything changes. I think it's time I get started washing things!

[mkh9]

Does he have a fever this morning? Sounds like the antibiotic isn't working. It does take two days or so but it should be getting better not worse if it was working. I hope they do another culture and antibiotic sensitivity test. Let me know what happens.
mkh9

[Klcoug88]

Since this morning he seems to have gotten much worse. He's been on the antibiotic 36 hours. He can't talk anymore and his throats awfully swollen. We're considering a minor emergency room trip if this continues. His doctor did in fact tell him about the issues with this medicine so I've made sure he's getting yogurt down. I'm kind of at a loss as to what else that can be done without going to the doctor again and trying another antibiotic. Decontaminating will definitely be taking place soon... Thanks for your help. It's greatly appreciated.

[mkh9]

It is possibly the same strep that keeps coming back either because he is getting recontaminated somehow or that the antibiotics aren't killing it. Strep. pyogenes (group A strep) has toxins which can cause serious complications such as scarlet fever, rheumatic fever septicemia (blood infections) etc. So you want to get this under control. You can get strep without a fever but it is very unusual.  I would stay off of the steroid if I were you. Make sure he eats two yogurts a day (that contain live bacteria such as lactobacillus or bifidobacterium) or takes probiotics. Clindamycin can also cause complications usually 1-2 months after taking it because it gets rid of good bacteria in the gut and allows a particular bacteria to take over called C. difficile. It doesn't always happen but if it does it isn't good. So, he has to make sure to take probiotics. I don't know why the doctors don't tell you this. My doctors nurse told me (although I happened to know about it). Your boyfreind should throw away his toothbrush and things like that that could be causing reinfection. If you need any more advice on this let me know.
mkh9

[Klcoug88]

Yes it definitely does still look like strep, was tested positive for such, and all of his medicines are prescribed. This round he is not on a steroid but is taking clindamycin (sp?) 4 times a day. He's been taking the antibiotics for a day and it appeared to be paining him a bit more this morning than previously but there is no fever..

[mkh9]

Firstly, has he been cultured for strep throat and/or had a rapid strep test done? Secondly, steroids are good for getting inflammation down but they cause you get very immunocompromised. Are these oral steroids and were they actually perscribed by a doctor. I would stop the steroids. He could also have a resistant strain of Strep. so they may need to do a antibiotic sensitivity panel if the culutre is still positive. Lastly, it may virus that he got after the initial infection. Does the throat still look like it has white pus spots?
mkh9