| Unlike the very common sore throat, caused by | | | | the occurrence of rheumatic fever, condition that often |
| infection with flu-viruses, strep throat is caused by | | | | resulted in the patients' death. However, the incidence |
| infection with Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus | | | | of rheumatic fever among patients with strep throat |
| bacteria and is usually more severe. For decades, the | | | | has dramatically decreased over the years, and |
| primary choice of medications in the treatment of | | | | doctors claim that rheumatic fever is no longer a |
| strep throat has consisted in antibiotics. Although at | | | | matter of concern at present. |
| first penicillin was the main antibiotic medication to be | | | | Rheumatic fever has become an extremely rare |
| prescribed to patients with strep throat, nowadays | | | | condition and the isolated cases of ARF registered in |
| stronger antibiotics such as erythromycin and | | | | the last few years had nothing to do with strep throat, |
| clarithromycin are generally preferred over penicillin | | | | as they involved patients without any recent or past |
| derivates. | | | | experience of the disease. More elaborate studies |
| The reason why the treatment of strep throat | | | | have concluded that ARF can no longer be associated |
| nowadays requires the use of stronger antibiotics is | | | | with strep throat, as even in the absence of treatment |
| that most bacterial strains have evolved and have | | | | the risks for strep throat patients to develop ARF are |
| developed increased resistance to old-fashioned | | | | equivalent to zero. |
| antibiotics such as penicillin due to inappropriate | | | | Although antibiotics are known to be very unsafe, |
| treatment. Even at present, the exact following of the | | | | producing pronounced side-effects on long-term use, |
| doctor's directions regarding the use of antibiotics plays | | | | the efficiency of such medications in fighting the |
| a crucial role in ensuring the efficiency of the | | | | bacteria responsible for causing strep throat is still a |
| treatment. In case the treatment with antibiotics is | | | | debatable matter. Viewed through the perspective of |
| prematurely interrupted or the doctor-recommended | | | | their effectiveness in curing strep throat, antibiotics |
| dose of medications is not respected, infections with | | | | have always generated controversial opinions among |
| streptococcus bacteria can recur, becoming even | | | | the medical community. While early medical studies |
| more resistant. | | | | conducted in the 50's had suggested that antibiotics |
| Regardless of the types of antibiotics involved, the use | | | | were unable to produce substantial improvements in |
| of such medications in the treatment of strep throat | | | | strep throat symptoms, a series of studies conducted |
| has been contested by most physicians in the last few | | | | in the mid 80's had indicated the opposite. |
| years. The majority of medical scientists believe that | | | | In order to clarify whether antibiotics are efficient or |
| the use of antibiotics in the treatment of strep throat | | | | not in producing complete recovery from strep throat, |
| should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. They | | | | medical scientists continued the series of studies and |
| claim that antibiotics produce a variety of side-effects | | | | have recently concluded that the efficiency of such |
| that render such medications inappropriate for treating | | | | medications is strongly influenced by a series of |
| strep throat in children and elderly people. Most doctors | | | | factors such as: the age of the patient, the patient's |
| only recommend the use of antibiotics in case of | | | | past experience with strep throat, as well as |
| severe throat infections that may also be associated | | | | inadequate use of antibiotics (self-medication, |
| with complications (acute rheumatic fever, tonsillitis, | | | | under-treatment, discontinuous treatment, etc). |
| otitis); however, if the symptoms of strep throat are | | | | Considering the fact that antibiotics can produce |
| mild and there are no signs of complications, then | | | | serious side-effects (weaken the immune system by |
| antibiotics shouldn't be used at all. | | | | destroying the benign bacterial flora along with the |
| Traditionally, antibiotics were used in the treatment of | | | | harmful bacteria, can cause digestive disorders, can |
| strep throat in order to prevent the occurrence of | | | | increase one's risk of developing fungal infections, etc) |
| acute rheumatic fever (ARF), complication associated | | | | and have variable efficiency in fighting the |
| with streptococcus bacteria infections. Even if | | | | microorganisms responsible for causing strep throat, |
| antibiotics weren't 100 percent effective in overcoming | | | | such medications are best to be avoided in the |
| strep throat, they had the major attribute of preventing | | | | treatment of uncomplicated forms of strep throat. |