Just curious. I don't feel strongly one way or the other but just accidentally powered through a bout of strep- didn't know that was what it was until I got the scarlet fever rash. But I was googling about contagiousness because of my toddler (terrified I infected her) and came across some stuff from England and New Zealand saying Dr.s may or may NOT prescribe antibiotics for strep. Intriguing. I plan on getting antibiotics for LO if it comes to that because she has other health issues, but I would be interested to know for myself and future infections. It jives with my less is more approach 
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I think its pretty standard in Canada.
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Definitely standard in Ontario. I've been prescribed antibiotics for strep at a clinic and they didn't even bother testing me. Just "come back if this doesn't help".
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My understanding is if it is truly strep throat it would be treated with antibiotics but over 80% of sore throats are viral (therefor not strep) and wouldn't need them.
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My guess is yes - strep can turn nasty if left untreated and affect your joints and heart.
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It very much depends on the individual doctor here in the UK. Some doctors give out antibiotics like sweets and others refuse to give them to anyone!! There's a big push overall to stop giving antibiotics because of potential resistance issues in the future.....
The official line here is that most sore throats are viral and so antibiotics are not helpful - however if your sore throat is bacterial you will be prescribed antibiotics. BUT - how do they know? I read online that in the US you are given a swab test at the doctors to test for strep and, if that comes back negative, you are offered a culture test? Here, the doctor just guesses! I have never, ever heard of anyone getting any kind of swab test in the doctors!! The conversation with my doctor usually goes like this:
- "It's viral so just drink lots of water and take painkillers"
- "But how do you know?"
- "Most throat infections are viral"
- "But mine might not be - my tonsils are big pus blisters FFS"
- "There's nothing we can do, take painkillers"
- "But I've had it for over a week"
- "Viruses can last that long. Goodbye" -
My kid had tonsillitis this past spring, which I guess is pretty similar to strep, and he was given antibiotics (we are in Austria).
Ps. We just went to the dr today for what looks like the start of an ear infection and the dr gave him a prescription for antibiotics in case it hasn't improved in a few days.
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Strep sounds like a miserable thing to suffer through.
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Strep is awful. Give me the drugs.
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As in strep throat?
I used to get it a couple times per year. If I begged and got the right doctor they'd give it to me. I'm in ontario canada. This winter I thought I had it again and was told they don't give antibiotics any more for it. It seems to be the young doctors that won't give meds for it. Just "tylenol and salt water"
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@Mrs. Champagne: did they do a culture test and still deny the antibiotics? Or was it like Cherrybee's scenario?
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I get not wanting to blindly give antibiotics for every site throat, but what's the harm in taking them when you get cultured and it's truly strep? The same bacteria (strep A) nearly killed my cousin when he got a skin infection that ate the flesh off of his leg. Strep is scary stuff.
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@Cherrybee: your breakdown of the convo cracked me up! 2 weeks ago I went to the Dr. for the first time in 15 years- I have been having headaches and intermittent high blood pressure. I felt like the fact that I hadn't been to the Dr (except obgyn) for that long spoke to the fact I probably wasn't a hypochondriac....nope. Here is our conversation:
" I just haven't been feeling myself for about 6th months. Frequently ill, headaches and my blood pressure is often 130+ over 95+."
"Do you have children?" (I get excited, because I like that she is asking about my life, makes me think she is really looking at it from all angles)
"One daughter. 2."
"Does she go to daycare?" (STFU- that's what the Dr.s ask when LO is sick, too...I start to get suspicious that she isn't going to be the amazing doc I has hoped for)
"Yes."
"oh, well, that explains it. You are being exposed to new virus through her. Buh-bye."She literally touched me ONCE. I walked outta there with a diagnosis of pre-hypertension that I already knew about (possibly due to the HELLP syndrome I had in pregnancy) and a directive to take vitamin C.
@blackbird: It was the worst. I have never had it before. Like I had glass in my throat and drums beating in my ears. I was miserable but didn't take off work because I never popped the high fever and didn't realize it was strep. Then I got that rash all over my chest. I am sad to think I exposed so many people.
It probably sounds crazy that I didn't at least stay home, but I thought it was a rough cold and with my daughter's illness I can't afford to take off work for mine.
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@lizzywiz: if you had strep and the scarlet fever rash I would still try to get antibiotics for it. It could still be circulating and not completely cured. I find it crazy that they didn't test for strep!
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@yellowbird: oh, no, I miscommunicated- I didn't go to the Dr. for the strep (because I didn't know). That visit was unrelated....like I told the Dr., I have been sick A LOT, lol.
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@lizzywiz: A friend at work had it and she didn't know it was strep until it wouldn't go away....a week later
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In Canada and the UK it's standard. I get strep usually once a year and antibiotics are the only thing that will get rid of it.
A lot of people think they have step when they really don't, which is why antibiotics are not always necessary.
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@Cherrybee: I've had swab tests done plenty of times in England to test for it.
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In my experiences, in Canada they hand out antibiotics like it's candy. I had a sore throat and cough for about a month and went to walk in clinics and my own doctor... they never tested but i went through two different 10 day courses of antibiotics. finally when it wouldn't go away i went to the ER and the guy tested and told me it was viral.
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@loki: I agree with this. I have been given antibiotics SO many times. Unless it's strep or something else that has been proven to need them, I usually just wait a few days to see if it gets worse or doesn't improve before taking them.
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@alohaorchid: ya i get sick a lot so i try to hold off because i don't want to become immune to antibiotics. after that experience, i will DEFINITELY insist on a swab before i blindly start taking meds.
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I definitely disagree that in Canada they hand out antibiotics like candy. I live in rural AB and my experience has always been like Cherrybee's example. You can't get antibiotics for anything that resembles a cold, flu, sore throat etc. I've had to argue and complain for the whole appt just to get them to do the swab test, nevermind to actually give antibiotics.
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@xInfinity: wow never had that experience and i have lived in calgary, as well as ottawa and toronto. everywhere i've ever been they are quick to give antibiotics for everything! maybe it's because i've had to go to a lot of walk in clinics because i've rarely been close enough to visit my family doctor? good to hear it isn't like this everywhere though.
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I agree with @reverie:. I think the US follows the same guidelines. I've seen posters at my Dr's office about because careful prescribing antibiotics for everything.
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Interesting, short article from a Canadian medical journal. Basically a letter to the editor regarding another study, but goo info. My kiddo is probably still getting antibiotics but made me think.
"Do we treat to prevent rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis? There is no convincing evidence that, for the Western world, treating streptococcal sore throats with penicillin prevents either of these conditions."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1949249/
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