$Unique_ID{BRK02364}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Should Throat Cultures Always Be Performed for Strep Throat?}
$Subject{throat culture medication prescription penicillin strep throats
infection throat bacteria infection infections infected virus viral
streptococcal streptococcus cultures medications child children}
$Volume{A-6,R-6,S-6}
$Log{
Symptoms of Influenza and Strep Throat*0008501.scf}

Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Should Throat Cultures Always Be Performed for Strep Throat?


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QUESTION:  As young mothers often do, I was comparing the treatment of my 5
year old son to that given to a 6 year old son of my friend.  Though both
children were diagnosed with sore throats, my doctor did not require a throat
culture, while my girlfriend's son did not get a prescription for medication
until the results were back.  Does that mean that the penicillin my child
received was the wrong treatment?  Your comments would be most helpful.

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ANSWER:  The controversy over the best means of diagnosing strep throats is a
never ending one.  All physicians seem to agree that patients treated for a
strep infection of the throat have less complications that those that are not,
but throat cultures are not always accurate.  The fact is they may be negative
even when the infection is caused by the strep bacteria, so throat cultures
can not always be relied on.  Most doctors examine their patients carefully
and, depending upon their findings, make the decision to treat immediately or
to do further tests.  If it is obvious from the examination that the child is
likely to have a strep throat, then treatment can begin at once.  It is the
young patient, where the findings are unclear, that benefits from having a
throat culture, reserving treatment for those with positive cultures.  I would
imagine that this is exactly what has happened with both of your children.
Most doctors today are extremely sensitive to medical costs and to the
sometimes potential dangers that exist from dispensing medications too freely
without strong enough medical evidence to support their use.  Your question
helps me make another important point.  Always remember that in medicine today
there is usually more than one way to correctly treat the same condition.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.