If you have a recurring strep throat condition, then you may be incredibly frustrated with the constant sore throats and antibiotic use. Unfortunately, the condition may continue over time and there are a few situations where this is likely. Keep reading to learn about a few of these situations and what your ear nose and throat doctor may suggest to treat them.
Antibiotic Resistant Strep
There are many different strains of strep that can infiltrate the tonsils. The palatine tonsils, which are the ones that are located at the back of the mouth, are the part of the throat that engulfs the bacteria. This happens in an attempt to get rid of the microorganisms before they can cause an infection elsewhere in the body. However, the bacteria will overtake the tonsils in some cases before the tissues are able to kill all of the bacteria.
While a course of antibiotics will often kill the bacteria in the tonsil tissues, some strains of strep are now resistant to antibiotics. In other words, the bacteria have adapted certain defenses to keep the penicillin from killing them. The resistant bacteria will continue to infect the tonsils.
If you have a resistant strain of strep throat, then your physician can prescribe a stronger antibiotic than the one you were taking. In many cases, a synthetic antibiotic, two antibiotics, or a dual action type or medication will be prescribed.
If the infection cannot be controlled with stronger antibiotics, then the tonsils may need to be removed.
Carrier of Strep
There are a wide variety of microorganisms that naturally live in the oral cavity and the throat. These include strains of strep. The type of strep that causes strep throat, called hemolytic strep, may be present in the throat at all times. If this is the case, then you are more likely to contract an infection than an individual who has a less pathogenic strain of strep in the throat.
If you are a carrier of the more dangerous strep bacteria, then the microorganisms are likely to overcome the body's natural immune defenses whenever the immune system is stressed. For example, you may notice that a bout of strep throat crops up right after you experience a head cold.
Antibiotics will not eradicate the step bacteria entirely if you are a carrier. The removal of the tonsils may be a good way to keep infections at bay. Also, you should be diligent about staying away from individuals with cold and flu viruses, so your immune system does not become stressed. To learn more about your specific situation, contact services such as Surgery Center of Kenai.
Share24 May 2018
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.
