Talk to me about strep: Do I have to medicate?

[Thandiwe]

I believe my 19# 11 month old baby boy has strep.  I am starting back up (stopped a few days ago) with echinacea/goldenseal, doing 15 drops in a med cup cut with equal parts juice then syringed into his mouth (since he HATES the taste!).  How often and for how long can I do this regimen?  Is there another herb/homeopathic remedy that might be better?  I don't want to resort to antbx.

He has a bad cold with thick mucousy discharge, productive cough, sore throat, and lots of head pressure/congestion.  He has been running a fever since Thurs night/Fri (this is now Monday).  It has come and gone.  At most it went to 104/105, but has been regularly 101.5-102'ish.  Seems to come back mostly at night.

Also, does anyone have any resources for finding my own dosages for herbal remedies?  I want to keep delving into herbs myself for healing issues we come across, but my biggest struggle is finding dosages and interactions.  I want to learn more!!

Thank you so very much in advance.

[Llyra]

The main issue with strep is that it can sometimes, if untreated, lead to rheumatic fever. The recommendation currently is that all children infected with strep be treated with antibiotics. I've seen good evidence suggesting that the risk in healthy adults is low, but just about every expert who's read the research will recommend treating a child.

That said, it's unlikely it's strep if he's also got cold symptoms. You'd want a test confirming strep infection, before you treat for it. It sounds a lot more like flu, to me, with the high fever and the cough/congestion, and antibiotics won't help that. Strep throat usually presents with the fever, and swollen glands, but not with cough or congestion.

I don't know anything about herbs, so I can't help with that, but I did a great deal of research on strep last year, because I had a confirmed case of strep throat, and wanted to avoid antibiotics-- because I have an autoimmune disease and the antibiotics usually cause me to relapse. So I learned a lot about strep.

[Thandiwe]

Thank you.  Just tonight, he seems to be doing a little better.  After reading your comment, I agree that it doesn't really seem like strep.  His throat is read, but his glands/back of the throat are so swollen, it's possible it's just irritation from a bad cold or the flu.  I can hardly see down his throat, but I can see it's red.

I appreciate your help.  If we end up going in, I will have a strep test done before we get antbx.

[Crafty]

Strep throat usually presents with the fever, and swollen glands, but not with cough or congestion.

It CAN present with a cough- I had a bad case of strep when I was young, and my only symptom at first was a cough. My mom kept asking me, "Honey, does your throat hurt?" and I kept telling her no, but I kept coughing and coughing and coughing. Finally, she pulled out the flashlight and peeked down my throat (starting a lifelong obsession with looking down my throat with a flashlight every time I get the slightest throat ailment, lol), and went, "OMG!" because the back of my throat was covered in white pustules. The doctor confirmed it was strep the next day.

I hope your little one feels better soon, OP.

[Llyra]

A few other reassuring things I know:
strep throat is very uncommon in children under 5
and
the fever with a strep throat only rarely goes above 103.

[craft_media_hero]

About herbal dosing, I believe the Wise Woman Herbal suggests a quarter dose for littles. You could start with an eighth dose if that makes you more comfortable. I don't recall anything about dosing per body weight, maybe someone else will chime in with that.

If it is strep, you will probably be able to see the white patches on the throat. Maybe gargling (tho he's prob too little to understand gargle, huh) or spray with thyme infusion? He might like to drink it with honey. My auntie swears by goldenseal spray for throat maladies---I think you can get it @ a hfs. 

Good luck! I hope he gets better soon.

[FoxintheSnow]

If I were you I would take your little one in for a strep test? What's the harm? If he does have strep and it goes untreated, the consequences are dangerous.

[Lakeeffectsnow]

Originally Posted by FoxintheSnow 

If I were you I would take your little one in for a strep test? What's the harm? If he does have strep and it goes untreated, the consequences are dangerous.

[Hedgehog Mtn]

I just want to add that my younger brother had rheumatic fever and now has heart valve damage as a result, BUT he went through the antibiotics following the exact schedule. I've done some research for my own family but in 10 years and 5 kids we've not dealt with strep (go figure). I really don't know if I'd end up going the herbal route or not.

I'm only pointing this out because you should know that the strains are becoming resistant to the antibiotics and you could still get rheumatic fever.

[Thandiwe]

I am very intrigued by the goldenseal spray and thyme infusion!! 

I don't think it was strep, thank heavens!!  I pushed the ech/gold yesterday pretty hard, and added Slippery Elm bark powder, lots of fluids, and massaged his little feet and ears with garlic/mullein oil and he is much, much better!  I think it may just have been a flu bug with awful congestion.  We are going to head in for a chiro adjustment too since there has been some empirical evidence that chiro care has helped with flu over the years.

Once again, thank you all so much for the info.  I truly appreciate it!  I feel like I'm always walking a fine line; I don't want to jump right into antbx, but I don't want to neglect something that could become really severe either.  I am much happier the older they get and the less the risks appear to be; I hate when they get sick so little! 

[mom61508]

I know he's doing better  but have you tried elderberry syrup? Extra Vit C or sodium ascorbate? those things really help us get through the flu.

[Thandiwe]

mom61508, do you make your own elderberry syrup or buy it?  Have any recommendations on brands?  I have been thinking about it for a while.

[mom61508]

I buy it :) but will try making it eventually. I really love this brand http://www.honeygardens.com/elder.htm

[Thandiwe]

Thanks for sharing the link!  I was looking at the elderberry syrup on Mountain Rose Herbs (which I love, love, love!), but they had a 10% alcohol volume, while this only has 3%.  I definitely prefer the lower amount.  How young have you given the syrup, since it contains raw honey?  I often hear conflicting reports, some saying 1 year and younger is a no-no, some saying 2 years and younger.

[mom61508]

Honestly I think the fist time I gave to DD was maybe 14 months or so but I can't remember exactly.