Sore throat after sore throat after sore throat. Are you asking the critical questions?

In this discussion of recurrent group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis, the author notes that even at the peak of the streptococcal infection season, not more than 30% to 40% of children with sore throats actually have group A streptococci as the cause. Thus, it is vital to confirm clinical diagnosis of group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis with laboratory tests. When patients have recurrent infections with group A streptococci, possible causes include noncompliance, bacterial resistance, repeated exposure, alteration of the throat's microbial ecology, suppression of antibody response due to previous antibiotic therapy, and treatment failure. When noncompliance is an issue, an injection of penicillin G benzathine may be appropriate. In other circumstances, pharmacologic options for treatment of recurrent group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis include macrolides, clindamycin hydrochloride, rifampin (in combination with a second agent), and oral cephalosporins. If a patient has six or seven recurrences over 1 or 2 years despite antibiotic treatment, tonsillectomy should be considered.