Why do some people consistently get strep while others never get it?

[Anonymous]

Biologist- that's interesting! We call my grandma typhoid Mary. We ALWAYS get sick when visiting and staying at her house. Violently ill with trips to the ER. She was recently diagnosed with a gut bacteria issue, not sure on the specifics, but I was curious if this is why we always get sick?

[Anonymous]

My son got it regularly - every 30 days for a year. The doctors said basically some people fight it off, other's have it there and it never really goes away. We had his tonsils removed and live is much better. I have had strep 3 times in my 47 years of life, once as a kid and twice as an adult. My DH has never had it.

Agree with above - I had my tonsils out at age 16 and before that it was nearly month after month. My ENT doctor said my tonsils should have been shrunk and weren't due to all of the infection. I had it ONCE after they were removed and then none, knock wood.

To the PPs that are getting it a lot - have you considered removing tonsils?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never had it in 42 years. Husband has had it probably 30 times in 45 years. Some people definitely susceptible. Have you ever heard of anyone getting just once? I haven't

You may want to see if he's a carrier. He might want to have his tonsils out. 30 courses of antibiotics can't be good for anyone, especially if it's preventable by a minor surgery.

Good luck with that. I've gotten strep 4x a year for decades. Doctors won't remove tonsils if you're over 22. I am 29 now and just saw yet another ENT for this. I would LOVE to have my tonsils out.

[Anonymous]

The times I've had strep it was the worse sore throat of my life - I knew it wasn't just a random cold. When my son got it he had just about every variety you could from strep throat - strawberry tongue - your tongue is swollen and literally looks like a strawberry, scarlet fever etc. Once we saw the regular pattern of strep coming on we could always tell when he wasn't feeling well - stopped eating, only wanted cold drinks. I realized that this was one of those moments in life where you are glad you have antibiotics because once he had 2 doses he was so much better. They doctors also said if untreated - yes it will run its course- it can be a problem for the heart. Needless to say the kid got his tonsils removed but I woulnd't be so cavalier about not treating it with antibiotics or seeking a doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Good luck with that. I've gotten strep 4x a year for decades. Doctors won't remove tonsils if you're over 22. I am 29 now and just saw yet another ENT for this. I would LOVE to have my tonsils out.

You might consider taking the following from Web MD to the next doctor you see. Some studies have shown it might be worthwhile for some adults:

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20130402/tonsillectomy-might-be-worth-it-for-some-adults

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The times I've had strep it was the worse sore throat of my life - I knew it wasn't just a random cold. When my son got it he had just about every variety you could from strep throat - strawberry tongue - your tongue is swollen and literally looks like a strawberry, scarlet fever etc. Once we saw the regular pattern of strep coming on we could always tell when he wasn't feeling well - stopped eating, only wanted cold drinks. I realized that this was one of those moments in life where you are glad you have antibiotics because once he had 2 doses he was so much better. They doctors also said if untreated - yes it will run its course- it can be a problem for the heart. Needless to say the kid got his tonsils removed but I woulnd't be so cavalier about not treating it with antibiotics or seeking a doctor.

This was/is my DD. She has been infected with it every year since she was 18months. She is now 17 and still gets it multiple times a year (2-3x). I think this year I am going to talk to pediatrician about getting tonsils removed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Biologist- that's interesting! We call my grandma typhoid Mary. We ALWAYS get sick when visiting and staying at her house. Violently ill with trips to the ER. She was recently diagnosed with a gut bacteria issue, not sure on the specifics, but I was curious if this is why we always get sick?

What kind of symptoms, and are they always the same? Frequently when this situation occurs, the visitors get food poisoning from eating badly prepared food at the relative's house, which the relative is immune to (cue gut bacteria issue).
The "Typhoid Mary" scenario is much rarer, but not impossible. It would mean your relative is an asymptomatic carrier of something quite serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The times I've had strep it was the worse sore throat of my life - I knew it wasn't just a random cold. When my son got it he had just about every variety you could from strep throat - strawberry tongue - your tongue is swollen and literally looks like a strawberry, scarlet fever etc. Once we saw the regular pattern of strep coming on we could always tell when he wasn't feeling well - stopped eating, only wanted cold drinks. I realized that this was one of those moments in life where you are glad you have antibiotics because once he had 2 doses he was so much better. They doctors also said if untreated - yes it will run its course- it can be a problem for the heart. Needless to say the kid got his tonsils removed but I woulnd't be so cavalier about not treating it with antibiotics or seeking a doctor.

And I know others who have said their kids have not had a sore throat or fever by maybe stomach issues but it was still strep...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The times I've had strep it was the worse sore throat of my life - I knew it wasn't just a random cold. When my son got it he had just about every variety you could from strep throat - strawberry tongue - your tongue is swollen and literally looks like a strawberry, scarlet fever etc. Once we saw the regular pattern of strep coming on we could always tell when he wasn't feeling well - stopped eating, only wanted cold drinks. I realized that this was one of those moments in life where you are glad you have antibiotics because once he had 2 doses he was so much better. They doctors also said if untreated - yes it will run its course- it can be a problem for the heart. Needless to say the kid got his tonsils removed but I woulnd't be so cavalier about not treating it with antibiotics or seeking a doctor.

This was/is my DD. She has been infected with it every year since she was 18months. She is now 17 and still gets it multiple times a year (2-3x). I think this year I am going to talk to pediatrician about getting tonsils removed.

Please do!!!! Tonsils that have been enlarged from repeated strep/mono start to really get tonsil stones later in life. Blech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never had it in 42 years. Husband has had it probably 30 times in 45 years. Some people definitely susceptible. Have you ever heard of anyone getting just once? I haven't

You may want to see if he's a carrier. He might want to have his tonsils out. 30 courses of antibiotics can't be good for anyone, especially if it's preventable by a minor surgery.

Good luck with that. I've gotten strep 4x a year for decades. Doctors won't remove tonsils if you're over 22. I am 29 now and just saw yet another ENT for this. I would LOVE to have my tonsils out.

PP here. His tonsils were removed as a kid. The grew back and I get a nice side-order of snoring. Haha! Same thing about having them removed as an adult. He has it a lot less now than as a kid, maybe once ever couple of years. I have still not ever had it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biologist- that's interesting! We call my grandma typhoid Mary. We ALWAYS get sick when visiting and staying at her house. Violently ill with trips to the ER. She was recently diagnosed with a gut bacteria issue, not sure on the specifics, but I was curious if this is why we always get sick?

What kind of symptoms, and are they always the same? Frequently when this situation occurs, the visitors get food poisoning from eating badly prepared food at the relative's house, which the relative is immune to (cue gut bacteria issue).
The "Typhoid Mary" scenario is much rarer, but not impossible. It would mean your relative is an asymptomatic carrier of something quite serious.

PP here. We aren't sure what we're getting. Normally a rotovirus.

It's not food poisoning since she no longer cooks anymore (we stay with her to help her out), we're the ones cooking. We also fully bleach the entire house down when we arrive. Sometimes the bleaching and cleaning works and we don't get sick, but not always. She LOVES to eat off your plate or share drinks.

It's been ongoing for a decade at least.

[Anonymous]

Some people are prone to it.

I never got sick--no flus, etc--but I have very large tonsils and got Strep a few times a year as a kid. The other 4 family members never would get it.

Pretty much all the way until my mid-30s. I haven't had it in a decade.

Thankfully- my kids don't take after me. 10 and 7. Only 1 case a few years ago.

My dad was like me as a kid- but they removed his tonsils and then it didn't happen. In the 70s they were anti-tonsil removal--I think I really should have had mind out.

Over time- I have met some people just like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Genetics play a role in how you respond to certain pathogens, making some more resistant to strep bacteria than others. In addition, my understanding is that a large majority of people (something like 90%) become resistant to strep after the age of 14 or so. Genetics are responsible for those who continue to be unable to resist it after that point (so I've been told by our doctor).

I've had strep only once and as a child, even though I've nursed my children through numerous instances, continuing so far into their late teens. My mother and sister get it at least once a year.

You nursed your kids into their teen years? Ewww.

[Anonymous]

Over time- I have met some people just like me.

I am just like you. Yes, in the seventies they were very anti strep.

I also rarely get sick from anything besides strep, which I still get once a year or once every two years or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never had it in 42 years. Husband has had it probably 30 times in 45 years. Some people definitely susceptible. Have you ever heard of anyone getting just once? I haven't

You may want to see if he's a carrier. He might want to have his tonsils out. 30 courses of antibiotics can't be good for anyone, especially if it's preventable by a minor surgery.

Good luck with that. I've gotten strep 4x a year for decades. Doctors won't remove tonsils if you're over 22. I am 29 now and just saw yet another ENT for this. I would LOVE to have my tonsils out.

I always got strep, and finally got my tonsils taken out by an ENT in Fairfax at age 34. It was a miserable recovery - way worse than childbirth - but since then I have been healthy as a horse. All the ENT asked me was how often I got strep, and since it was more than twice a year, I got on the schedule and out they came.