Why Your Child Gets Strep Throat Every Few Months

Strep throat infections are a common cause of sore throats among people of all ages, but they’re especially common among kids. In fact, the CDC says about a third of sore throats in kids are due to strep bacterial infections.

The good news: Strep throat responds very well to antibiotics. The bad news: For many kids, strep throat comes back, causing more discomfort and increasing the likelihood that your child will spread the infection to other members of your family.

At One World Pediatrics, our team performs simple tests to confirm strep throat diagnosis during sick visits, providing tailored therapy to stop the infection, relieve uncomfortable symptoms, and prevent more serious complications. Here, learn some common reasons why your child’s strep infections keep coming back.

Not taking the full course of medicine

The bacteria that causes strep throat typically responds well to antibiotics. But as with any bacterial infection, it’s important to take those antibiotics as directed to reap their benefits. 

When it comes to strep throat treatment, many kids start feeling lots better long before their entire course of antibiotics is used and as a result, they may stop taking their medication. But ending treatment earlier than directed can leave bacteria behind, eventually leading to reinfection and a return of painful symptoms.

Not taking the full course of medication could also lead to antibiotic resistance, making it harder to treat an infection in the future. For these reasons, it’s very important to make sure your child uses their antibiotics exactly as prescribed, including using them for as long as directed.

Exposure to infected people

One reason why kids tend to have more strep throat infections than adults could be that they spend more time in close environments, like daycare and school settings, where it’s easier for the germs to spread. Strep germs spread via airborne particles released when coughing, sneezing, or even speaking. In close groups, it’s easy to see how tiny bacteria can travel from one person to another.

When germs land on hard surfaces, those surfaces become contaminated. If your child touches those surfaces, they can carry those germs to their mouth or nose, becoming infected themselves.

It’s important to note that strep infections can spread even if the person spreading the infection doesn’t show any symptoms. You can limit these exposures by disinfecting surfaces in your home regularly and teaching your child simple hygiene habits, like washing their hands frequently and sneezing or coughing into a tissue (which should be thrown away immediately).

Tonsil issues

Tonsils are patches of tissue located at the very back of your child’s throat that help trap airborne germs and prevent them from reaching the deeper airways. If your child’s tonsils are enlarged or scarred from past infections, they may harbor more bacteria that can be harder to treat with usual antibiotic therapy.

Culturing (growing) the bacteria from your child’s throat can help us provide more targeted therapy by prescribing specific types of antibiotics. But for some kids with frequent infections, having their tonsils removed is the best option.

Immune system issues

It’s also worth remembering that young kids are still building a robust immune system, and as a result, they may be more prone to infections while that system develops. In these kids, strep infections may become less frequent as they age.

Other kids may have underlying issues that affect their immune system function, like autoimmune disorders that can be diagnosed with testing.

Help your child stay healthy

Recurrent strep throat infections increase your child’s risk of more serious respiratory infections, including pneumonia. To learn how we can help you manage your child’s infections and help them stay healthy at school and at home, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at One World Pediatrics in Longwood and Apopka, Florida, today.