Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    Maybe also post it in the MEDICAL notesfile....they don't have a topic
    on strep yet, but someone there may have some info....
    
    -Jody

	 I used to be a strep carrier when I was very
	 young.....finally they removed my tonsils when I was 10 and
	 haven't had it since.





	 kath

    Also be aware that family pets can contract strep from
    humans, and vice versa.  If all infected household mem-
    bers are not treated, there is the chance of everyone
    being reinfected (strep is he** for us with 2 adults,
    1 child and 3 dogs).
    
    Deb
    

    Deb,
    
    I knew we had to culture the rest of the family, but never thought
    about the cats and dog too!
    
    Bonnie

    
    Bonnie, are you questioning the long term use of antibiotics?  My
    daughter is not a strep carrier, but when she was 14 years old,
    she had her mouth reconstructed.  She was wired shut for 3 months.
    During the wired period and for 6 months after she was on a low
    dose of antibiotics, to keep her from catching any of the flus that
    were going around. They didn't want her to do any sneezing or serious
    coughing until all the bones were completely healed. I didn't notice
    any long term after affects.
    
    +pat+

    +pat+ 
    
    That is one of the things I have a question on certainly. I was
    concerned that being on a prolonged doesage of antibiotics would
    make her susceptable to vaginal or digestive tract infections from
    yeasts.
    
    I've got a call into my dr with a list of questions  but we haven't
    been able to connect.
    
    Bonnie

    I gave my whole family strep when I was about ten years old.  I never
    got it myself tho.  We all had to have a throat culture done and they
    said I was the carrier.  I was put on an anitbotic for a couple weeks
    and that was all.  We had the cat and dog tested as well, they were
    fine.  I wonder why your daughter has to be on the antibiotic for year?
    
    Judy

About 15 years ago I had strep throat.  It was treated with penicillin
and after 10 days I still had it.  Then my doctor decided it might be a
resistant strain & treated it with something else & it cleared up 
almost immediately.  You might consider that too.

I think that one possible drawback about taking small antibiotic doses is that
you build up a tolerance to the drug, so if you do get an infection of some sort,
you have to take a larger dose than normal to get rid of it

(I was talking to my father, a pharmacist, after I had a serious reaction to
pennicillin)

One positive thing that may come from it is that the antibiotics will do an
amazing job of clearing up your complexion.  After I finally rid myself of the
rash, I looked at my face in the mirror and couldn't believe how clear it
was.  It looked like the models' faces in skin care ads.  (It's back to normal
now.  I have pores again.)

Lisa

    The reason why Jessie is going on the low dose antibiotic for so long
    is that she has had more strep infections than I can count over
    the past year. Nothing seems to knock it out of her system, and she's
    had quite a variety of medications.
    
    Bonnie

    
    Bonnie,
    Is your doctor and Ear/nose/throat specialist?  if not, you
    might consider going to one for a second opinion.  As a kid for
    years I had colds, flu, allergies which required constant 
    antibiotics, then my mother took me to and e/n/t guy who said
    I had developed a tolerance and allergy to the antibiotics, had
    a white/bumpy throat rash from it, gave me something different
    (and stronger) which I took for about 2 weeks (if i recall
    correctly...after all it was 25 years ago...)and no further
    problems.
    The only lasting 'side-effect' from all those years of
    antibiotics was yellowed teeth...not a lot, but no more
    pearly whites!  
    
    debbie
    

    i'm told there's an alpha strain and a beta strain of strep.  
    
    the beta strain does not exhibit any symptoms, but is nonetheless as
    active and contractible as alpha.  but it is also treatable by the
    standard methods.
    
    turns out i carry beta strep and was unknowingly responsible for the
    repeated exposure to others in the household exhibiting symptoms
    constantly.
    
    recovery was lasting after including me in the antiobiotic treatment.
    
    and mind you, if you were to ask, i'd have told you i never had a strep
    throat in my life!
    
    so, you might want to screen the household for a beta strep carrier..
    
    karl

    Another vote for an specialist, with a thought about tonsilectomy...
    
    My daughter Diana also had many strep infections over a period of
    years.  Finally after a change in doctors, she was referred to the
    specialist, who determined that the strep was based in her tonsils,
    and that she would probably continue to get it.  So, at the age of
    17 her tonsils were removed.  She has not had strep in the 7 years
    since.
    
    Linda

    By the way, I do trust my current doctor, and he doesn't hesitate to
    recommend specialists. What I entered the note for was to get some
    ideas of what to expect with this and what questions to ask him.
    
    and thanks to everyone who has answered so far
    
    Bonnie
    
    (hi Linda, say hi to Diana and my 'step grand kids' )

    Hi Bonnie,
    
    I second the suggestion to get a special check on the strain of
    strep and what antibiotics it is/isn't resistant/susceptible to,
    if it hasn't been done already.  I had one experience (not strep)
    with an infection that was caused by a strain that they had never
    before seen resistent to the several standard treatments.  It was
    a nightmare until they checked that out (it took several tests),
    and then 10 days later I was fine and remained fine.
    
    As for long term antibiotic use, it is not uncommon for certain
    conditions, although in most cases it is not appropriate.  Just
    watch carefully for side effects which may occur early or develop
    with the longer use.  One of my daughters took tetracyclin for
    several years for impossible acne (because her teeth were fully
    developed, she did not have the discoloration problem that can
    occur with early age use of tetracycline).
    
    sorry to repeat, but MAKE SURE THEY ARE USING AN ANTIBIOTIC THAT
    *WORK* ON THE PARTICULAR STRAIN SHE HAS!
    
    	good luck,
    		   Pennie