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Table of Contents
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
This article explains why recurring strep throat occurs and treatment options.
Little girl having her throat examined.fstop123 / Getty Images
What Is Recurring Strep Throat?Multiple strep throat infections during one respiratory season (in the U.S., this is the fall and winter) are recurrent.
What Is Recurring Strep Throat?
Multiple strep throat infections during one respiratory season (in the U.S., this is the fall and winter) are recurrent.
Reasons for Recurring Strep Throat
Researchers have examined why some people are more prone to recurringstrep throatinfections. In one study, researchers examined why some people experience reinfection while others resist it. They examinedtonsilsamples from two groups and found those with recurring infections had:
In addition, some people are carriers of GAS, also called colonization. Carriers are people who are asymptomatic but test positive for strep bacteria on a throat culture.
Risk Factors for Step ThroatStrep throat can occur in anyone of any age. The most significant risk factor is being in close contact with someone with strep. In addition, certain people are more at risk for developing the infection, including:Children ages 5 to 15Parents of school-aged kidsAdults who work with kidsThose who attend or work in schools and daycare centersThose who live in close, crowded quarters, like military barracks
Risk Factors for Step Throat
Strep throat can occur in anyone of any age. The most significant risk factor is being in close contact with someone with strep. In addition, certain people are more at risk for developing the infection, including:Children ages 5 to 15Parents of school-aged kidsAdults who work with kidsThose who attend or work in schools and daycare centersThose who live in close, crowded quarters, like military barracks
Strep throat can occur in anyone of any age. The most significant risk factor is being in close contact with someone with strep. In addition, certain people are more at risk for developing the infection, including:
Treating Recurring Strep Throat
Treatingrecurring strep throat requires that a healthcare provider determine whether a person has an actual recurring infection or whether they are a GAS carrier. While both turn up a positive strep test, that is often where the similarities end.
True Recurrent Strep
A true recurrent strep infection has the following characteristics:
In this case, antibiotics (penicillinor amoxicillin) are the standard course of treatment. However, sometimes atonsillectomy(surgery to remove the tonsils) may be an option.
GAS Colonization
With GAS colonization, symptoms are atypical of strep throat and might includecoughand congestion. In addition, symptoms don’t improve with antibiotics, and the throat culture remains positive even in the absence of symptoms.
Often, whenantibiotics are ineffective, it may indicate aviral infectionrather than GAS reinfection. In that case, the illness generally runs its course. Carriers are less contagious than people with an active infection, although how contagious they are depends on the strain in which they are colonized.
Preventing Recurring Strep Throat
Preventing recurring infections is the same as how to prevent strep throat initially. Mainly that involves good hygiene practices, including:
Recurring episodes most often occur in school-age children. Fortunately, they rarely occur over multiple years, probably because children develop some immunity and improve their hygiene as they get older, which decreases their likelihood of getting sick.
Summary
Recurring strep throat is when you get reinfected multiple times in one respiratory season (fall and winter). Some people tend to be more prone to developing frequent infections. Researchers have identified that those who get recurrent infections tend to have fewer antibodies and a less robust immune response to infection. Recurring strep throat infections are treated the same way as a primary infection. Antibiotics are the first-line treatment for strep throat. It is also possible for someone to be a GAS carrier and not be ill or symptomatic, which is not the same as recurring strep throat.
A Word From Verywell
If you’re worried that recurring strep throat means you’re doomed to have your tonsils removed, there’s good news.Tonsillectomyis no longer standard practice for recurring infections—even as many as six infections in a year. Instead, watchful waiting is recommended.Of course, every situation is unique, so discuss the best options with a healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked QuestionsResearchers found that those who had recurring infections had fewer antibodies and a less robust immune response to prior infection.Learn MoreHow to Maintain a Strong Immune SystemKids are more susceptible to strep throat infections because they are exposed to it more often at school. But, not every person exposed to the infection will get infected repeatedly.Learn MoreIs Strep Throat Contagious?If you develop a sore throat immediately after antibiotic treatment, you may not have fully recovered from your initial infection. This is especially true if you didn’t complete your antibiotic regimen or missed doses. You may also be a strep carrier and have a viral infection.Learn MoreCauses of Sore Throat
Researchers found that those who had recurring infections had fewer antibodies and a less robust immune response to prior infection.Learn MoreHow to Maintain a Strong Immune System
Researchers found that those who had recurring infections had fewer antibodies and a less robust immune response to prior infection.
Learn MoreHow to Maintain a Strong Immune System
Kids are more susceptible to strep throat infections because they are exposed to it more often at school. But, not every person exposed to the infection will get infected repeatedly.Learn MoreIs Strep Throat Contagious?
Kids are more susceptible to strep throat infections because they are exposed to it more often at school. But, not every person exposed to the infection will get infected repeatedly.
Learn MoreIs Strep Throat Contagious?
If you develop a sore throat immediately after antibiotic treatment, you may not have fully recovered from your initial infection. This is especially true if you didn’t complete your antibiotic regimen or missed doses. You may also be a strep carrier and have a viral infection.Learn MoreCauses of Sore Throat
If you develop a sore throat immediately after antibiotic treatment, you may not have fully recovered from your initial infection. This is especially true if you didn’t complete your antibiotic regimen or missed doses. You may also be a strep carrier and have a viral infection.
Learn MoreCauses of Sore Throat
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Martin JM.The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis.Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9Dan JM, Havenar-Daughton C, Kendric K, et al.Recurrent group a streptococcustonsillitis is an immunosusceptibility disease involving antibody deficiency and aberrant TFH cells.Sci Transl Med. 2019;11(478):eaau3776. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aau3776Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical considerations for group A streptococcus.Mitchell RB, Archer SM, Ishman SL, et al.Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children (update)-executive summary.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;160(2):187-205. doi:10.1177/0194599818807917
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Martin JM.The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis.Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9Dan JM, Havenar-Daughton C, Kendric K, et al.Recurrent group a streptococcustonsillitis is an immunosusceptibility disease involving antibody deficiency and aberrant TFH cells.Sci Transl Med. 2019;11(478):eaau3776. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aau3776Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical considerations for group A streptococcus.Mitchell RB, Archer SM, Ishman SL, et al.Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children (update)-executive summary.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;160(2):187-205. doi:10.1177/0194599818807917
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Martin JM.The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis.Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9Dan JM, Havenar-Daughton C, Kendric K, et al.Recurrent group a streptococcustonsillitis is an immunosusceptibility disease involving antibody deficiency and aberrant TFH cells.Sci Transl Med. 2019;11(478):eaau3776. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aau3776Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical considerations for group A streptococcus.Mitchell RB, Archer SM, Ishman SL, et al.Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children (update)-executive summary.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;160(2):187-205. doi:10.1177/0194599818807917
Martin JM.The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis.Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9
Dan JM, Havenar-Daughton C, Kendric K, et al.Recurrent group a streptococcustonsillitis is an immunosusceptibility disease involving antibody deficiency and aberrant TFH cells.Sci Transl Med. 2019;11(478):eaau3776. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aau3776
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical considerations for group A streptococcus.
Mitchell RB, Archer SM, Ishman SL, et al.Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children (update)-executive summary.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;160(2):187-205. doi:10.1177/0194599818807917
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