Strep Throat

Pharyngitis, or sore throat, accounts for a significant proportion of antibiotic use today. More than 75% of those with sore throats are given antibiotic prescriptions by their physicians in spite of the fact that only about 10% are caused by bacteria in adults and about 30% in children. About half of all children with positive cultures showing strep actually have an acute infection; the other half represent a carrier state. Some children who always test positive for strep chronically “carry” a small amount of the bacteria, but it does not make them sick and they do not pass it on to others. If carefully tested to control for all children who are chronic carriers and always test positive, doctors would find that only 15% of sore throat patients have a strep throat worthy of treatment.

Although sore throats are self-limited and it is extremely rare to develop any long-term ill effects, physicians report that they prescribe antibiotics knowing they are not necessary. Doctors report that they do so in order to meet patients’ expectations, so as not to disappoint parents looking to give their child something…

Never give your child an antibiotic for a sore throat unless it has been tested for strep and came back positive. Doctors cannot tell by examining the child if a sore throat is caused by strep or not; it must be tested.

It is almost universally accepted practice to give antibiotics to all who are tested and found to harbor Group A beta-hemolytic strep. Diagnosing a strep throat is the major objective of the doctor visit when one has a sore throat, as it is thought that it is necessary to treat this type of sore throat to prevent dangerous aftereffects from strep, such as rheumatic fever or complications involving the kidney.

The question has to be asked, which is more risky to our children, treating strep throat with antibiotics to reduce the probability of rheumatic fever occurring later, or not treating strep throat because the possible long-term damage from treating so many with antibiotics exceeds the problems that might have developed if not treated? This is a difficult question to answer, and I do not claim to have the definitive answer, but nevertheless, we must consider the question, especially in light of the documented dangers of our present practice of raising our children on so much antibiotics.

… Seventy percent of all sore throats, most of which are not strep, are treated with antibiotics.

–Disease-Proof Your Child (2005) by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D.; pages 58 – 62

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The information contained throughout this blog / website should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician / physician.

More on this topic can be found in Disease-Proof Your Child.