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Non Group A Strep
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sillysallysc posted:
I have a 9 year old daughter who has strep at least once each year. She had been complaining of headaches, sore throat and had a low grade fever for a few days. I finally took her to the dr who did a throat culture. The "office" diagnosis was "negative" but they sent the culture aout to make sure. The "fianl" diagnosis is she has "Non Group A Strep." Our Dr's office doesn't treat fo this unless the symtoms persist. She swam this weekend and hasn't had a fever nor has she ocomplained about a headache. She still says she has a slight sorethroat, but only in the mornings.
Is not teating her with anitbiotics the right decision? Thanks.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Non Group A StrepI have a 9 year old daughter who has strep at least once each year. She had been complaining of headaches, sore throat and had a low grade fever for a few days. I finally took her to the dr who did a throat culture. The "office" diagnosis was "negative" but they sent the culture aout to make sure. The "fianl" diagnosis is she has "Non Group A Strep." Our Dr's office doesn't treat fo this unless the symtoms persist. She swam this weekend and hasn't had a fever nor has she ocomplained about a headache. She still says she has a slight sorethroat, but only in the mornings.<br />Is not teating her with anitbiotics the right decision? Thanks.
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD responded:
Group A beta-hemolytic Strep is the bad guy....and should be treated. "non-group A" Strep is considered normal flora in the throat and does not need to be treated with antibiotics. The vast majority of sore throats in children are not even bacterial at all, but viral (over 80%). Viruses do not respond to antibiotics.

As you know, I did not examine your daughter. Treatment decisions are not solely based just on lab results, but the appearance of the throat during examination and the overall health of the person. I suspect, since she went swimming, that she was not that ill, so not-treating her with an antibiotic may have been the way to go, but again, I didn't examine her.

Is she better today?
Report This| Share this:Non Group A StrepGroup A beta-hemolytic Strep is the bad guy....and should be treated. "non-group A" Strep is considered normal flora in the throat and does not need to be treated with antibiotics. The vast majority of sore throats in children are not even bacterial at all, but viral (over 80%). Viruses do not respond to antibiotics.<br /> <br />As you know, I did not examine your daughter. Treatment decisions are not solely based just on lab results, but the appearance of the throat during examination and the overall health of the person. I suspect, since she went swimming, that she was not that ill, so not-treating her with an antibiotic may have been the way to go, but again, I didn't examine her.<br /> <br />Is she better today?
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