Antibiotic Guidelines for Sore throat

Pharyngitis or sore throat is a throat infection that is commonly seen in children. Pharyngitis may be caused by either viral or bacterial infections. While there are several reasons for sore throat infections, strep throat is sore throat infection caused by GABHS (group A beta hemolytic streptococcus) bacteria.

sore throat antibiotics

Antibiotics are effective in treating sore throat caused by bacterial pathogens only. They do not form main treatment regimen if pharyngitis is caused due to other organisms.

Antibiotics are chosen based on the type of bacterial pathogen and severity of signs and symptoms. Also, the cost of the antibiotics is a point of consideration. Bacterial pharyngitis accounts only to about 10 to 15% of sore throat infections. Of these bacterial organisms, gram positive bacteria account to sore throat infections when compared to gram negative bacteria.

When you are suffering from painful sore throat, tenderness in neck region near lymph nodes, tonsil ulcers – redness, cough, congestion, and/or cotton mouth, you are suffering from pharyngitis. When the symptoms do not subside in 2 to 3 days or begin to aggravate, it is clearly important to consult the doctor.

A strep test is generally advised to most of the patients. Rapid strep test and mononucleosis are diagnostic tests to detect GABHS and Epstein-bar virus infections. When the patient shows positive to strep test, antibiotics form the frontline treatment. There are chances that the strep throat may lead to rheumatic fever, so physicians have a nine-day window.

Antibiotic therapy is recommended when there are persistent symptoms for more than 72 hours. However, there is no strict timeframe to start the antibiotic therapy.

The use of antibiotics should be done only after looking for contraindications in case of pregnant and pediatric patients.

Here are a few antibiotic therapy options that may be chosen in respective conditions:

Pharyngitis with minimum symptoms: If sore throat is not bothering too much with severe symptoms, it is ideal to start a high dose penicillin (amoxicillin) therapy or macrolide antibiotic (first generation) for at least 10 days. Second generation cephalosporins may be chosen in penicillin tolerant patients. If patients are allergic to penicillin and susceptible to crossover allergic reactions to cephalosporins, erythromycin may be used.

Pharyngitis with systemic symptoms: This patient condition requires broad spectrum antibiotics such as second generation macrolide, fourth generation cephalosporins, or extended penicillin.

Recurrent GABHS: If the patient is susceptible to or experiences GABHS relapse, a combination of amoxicillin-clavulanate is preferred. Read more on http://whatissorethroat.com