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More parents seem to be making an effort in recent years to limit antibiotic exposure for their children. This is due to concerns about how this may impact long term health or contribute to increased susceptibility to deadly superbugs such as C-Diff. Treating strep throat without meds remains a glaring exception to this trend.
It seems that whenever a doctor diagnoses a child or even an adult with strep throat, there is no question that they require an immediate round of antibiotics. Even those who typically avoid meds and follow a more holistic lifestyle seem to fall into this trap.Â
Strep Throat Symptoms
There is no doubt that strep throat is a serious infection. It is a bacterial infection and involves severe inflammation of the throat and tonsils. Typical signs of strep throat include:
- Sudden, severe sore throat
- Fever higher than 101°F/ 38 °C
- Pain when swallowing
- Pale colored spots on the back of a bright red throat
Some people suffering from strep throat will also get swollen lymph glands in their neck. Others experience vomiting or a red skin rash.
How Long Does Strep Throat Last?
Strep throat will only last 3 to 7 days with or without treatment. Doctors usually treat strep throat with antibiotics even though they will not make you well any faster. Strep throat contagiousness will continue for 24 hours once antibiotics are started. With no treatment, strep throat continues to be contagious until symptoms resolve.
In response to the persistent overuse of antibiotics for strep throat, the journal Canadian Family Physician states:
… symptoms caused by a bacterial sore throat [strep] fail to clear much faster when treated with antibiotics than they would if left alone.
It is certainly easier and quicker to hand out prescriptions every time than to explain and reassure. Each time we do this, however, we reinforce patients’ fears.
Do family physicians have to declare a conflict of interest in answering these questions? If we were to lower ourselves to examining the vulgar subject of money, it is certainly in our financial interest to keep many patients scared enough to rush to our offices whenever they get sore throats.
In view of the large number of antibiotics prescribed for sore throats, perhaps it is time to review whether we should be using such treatment for strep throat infections at all.
Is Strep Throat Overmedicated?
Mmmm.
Sounds like the idea of not administering antibiotics for strep throat may not be as crazy as it first sounds. Are doctors overmedicating strep throat just like they overmedicate ear infections, colds and sinus/respiratory infections?
A round of antibiotics has the potential to cause permanent damage to the gut flora. This, in turn, has a lifelong impact on overall immunity to both chronic and acute illness. Skipping those antibiotic pills altogether may prove in the long run to be the smartest approach of all.
Do You Have to Get Antibiotics for Strep Throat?
In light of the fact that every round of antibiotics potentially damages the gut in a manner than can never be 100% repaired, I think questioning the automatic use of antibiotics for every single case of strep is worth consideration. While some people clearly need meds, they are not necessary for everyone even if the suggestion may seem ludicrous at first.
The complications of strep throat are, after all, extremely serious. However, they are also rare especially for a healthy person with no autoimmune issues. Scarlet fever, inflammation of the kidney, or rheumatic fever which could permanently damage the heart are all remote possibilities.
I dated a guy in high school who was deaf in one ear from Scarlet fever (who is ironically now a MD). I am in no way kidding myself about how serious complications from strep throat can be by questioning whether antibiotics are truly needed for this type of infection.
My Experience with Untreated Strep Throat
My serious doubts about the wisdom of using antibiotics for strep throat go back to my one and only experience with this infection the summer I turned 15.  Strep was by far the worst sore throat I’ve ever had and the pain when I swallowed was almost unbearable to endure.
My Father, a Family Physician, made the decision not to put me on any antibiotics and let me ride it out under my own power. My Dad wasn’t into herbs or anything so I didn’t have any alternative treatments administered either.
The infection lasted over a week … my memory remembers a full two weeks but it might have been a few days shy of that.
I lost several pounds during that illness as I could only endure swallowing liquids the entire time. I pretty much subsisted on vanilla milkshakes from the ice cream shop down the road for the duration of that awful infection and I still got well under my own power with no complications.
The interesting thing is that I seem to have developed an immunity to strep ever since. I’ve never had strep throat ever again in 35+ years. This is despite repeated exposures at close range. During college, I even had a roommate with strep and didn’t get sick. This despite eating pretty rotten cafeteria food and lots of sugary foods. This no doubt suppressed my immune function considerably.
Is it possible that allowing the body to fight off strep throat naturally on its own confers partial or total immunity?
I’ve often considered this possibility over the years. My personal belief is that yes, it is very much possible to develop an immunity to strep throat. Certainly, though, my anecdotal story does not in any way provide sufficient evidence.
I can say with certainty that if and when any of my children (or myself) ever came down with strep throat, hands down I would without question skip the antibiotics.
Why?
Developing Strep Throat Immunity (yes, it’s possible!)
The reason is that folks who take antibiotics for strep throat seem to get it over and over and over again. Sometimes they get strep throat again within mere days or weeks from the previous infection. Have you noticed this vicious cycle too?
Wouldn’t it be a far better and healthier approach to fight it off one time and be done with it possibly for the rest of your life?
My retired MD Dad is of the philosophy that if you give the body a crutch every time it gets ill, it will always expect and demand that crutch. This results in immunity getting weaker over time. I have witnessed the truth of this philosophy through observation. Those who have the tendency to over-medicate their illnesses whether it be with antibiotics or (gasp) even natural remedies can unwittingly experience a downside.
Attempting to squelch illness at the first sign of a sniffle, for example, is not a wise approach in my opinion even if nontoxic.
The immune system stays strong when it is allowed to fight and defeat an illness with no interference. Ideally, rest and nourishment only (including frequent mugs of homemade bone broth or soups made with it) should be provided.
Now, I do think that much consideration needs to be given to the health of the individual before forgoing the meds. A child with autoimmune issues who is not eating well in the first place probably should just take the antibiotics.
On the other hand, a robust healthy child with no autoimmune illness who is consuming an excellent diet has a superb chance of handling the infection well with no intervention.
My Daughter’s Experience with Untreated Strep Throat
Recently, my preteen daughter came down with strep. She is my youngest child, and this was the first time any of my three children had ever had strep throat.
Given that she is healthy with no underlying health issues, my husband and I decided to ride it out. We treated her with natural antibiotics only.
The result?
She recovered completely within 48 hours. In fact, the white spots on her throat disappeared in less than 12 hours once we started treatments. We used garlic, raw manuka honey, and turmeric several times a day.
It will be interesting to see if she ever gets strep throat again. My bet is that she won’t. She will likely develop partial or total lifelong immunity just like I did when I recovered at age 15 from untreated strep.
UPDATE
It’s been nearly four years including a very bad flu season with no recurrence of strep for my daughter. It’s looking good for her having developed natural immunity.
Have you recovered from strep throat with no antibiotics needed? Did you develop a strep throat immunity afterward? Please let us know your experience in the comments section.
References
Canadian Family Physician, Should we treat strep throat with antibiotics?
More Information
How to Repair Your Gut After Antibiotics
Why Antibiotics Today Could Threaten Your Life Tomorrow
Hi , I have developed a lot of allergies / sensitivities /nerve damage since a stroke a few years ago and get severely ill with antibiotics , antiseptic among a long list. I now have strep throat , there are approximately four small white spots on the right side of my throat tucked near my tongue. The throat it’s self is red and sore , I got a throat virus , almost better , flu virus and after shaking that this strep. Please can you help , I do have a sensitive tummy as I have a sliding hiatus hernia and IBS. I am so scared to take antibiotics , the last ones gave such severe chest pain and other problems , bowel, stomach , that one tablet took me two weeks to recover from it . Thank you very much.
Hi! I am in need of advice for my recurring tonsil infections. I was given antibiotics a lot as a child for strep throat. I now have been suffering from tonsil infections for a year and a half off and on. I was given antibiotics twice (2 different kinds) in the last 18 months and they did not work. I have now tested positive for strep again, have shingles, have a yeast infection and a neurological movement disorder that developed in the last month. I am a super health conscience person and on the candida diet for the last 3 weeks. What can I do to naturally beat this thing without wrecking my body with more antibiotics? I feel like I’m on serious uphill battle and need any help I can get. Thank you!
Sounds like you are definitely immuno-suppressed. You really need to reach out to a trusted functional MD in your area for advice.
I had tonsilitis for the first time last year (age 25, otherwise healthy but have IBS) i was in a new country and so freaked out by the look of my tonsils i went on antibiotics, same thing happened this year and after trying for a week to fight them i went on antibiotics again. Days later i got strep throat again. I tried again to fight it myself, resting lots. But but two weeks later the gp recommended peniciilin. I prefer not to take antibiotics and now worry I will get it again as i havent developed resistance myself but have made it more resistant. Can you fight strep naturally after using antibiotics?
It’s definitely more tricky that way because the gut flora are damaged for a period of time after antibiotics. Some studies say they don’t return to normal for as much as 4 years or even longer. Having abnormal mix of gut microbes negatively impacts natural immunity in a big way.
I have had scarlet fever due to strep throat 4 times. I nearly died each time. The first time I was 17 and it came on so suddenly. I just had a mildly sore throat one night, and the next morning my throat was fire, and I was hallucinating, and I my neck was swollen, and I had a rash and a fever. No one had any any idea what had happened at first. My children are all very sensitive to strep bacterium as well. Unfortunately it turns out that this plays out across other types of strep as well.
Hi…I get this sore throat very often.and mostly have used antibiotics.this time been 5 days going natural. In too much pain.at a point to give up. Have no call bladder wondering is reflux the reason behind sore throat . Pls advise. Thnx
Hi Sarah I had written a month ago after trying the garlic remedy but stopping too soon and becoming infecting again. You had recommended trying it but longer like regular antibiotics. I was skeptical at first despite being a big believer in natural remedies only because strep has been my kryptonite and I’m too afraid to fight it naturally. But now it’s veen almost three weeks strep free and I’m amazed that I did that with garlic honey and cayenne! I am very curious to see if I ever catch it again. Here’s hoping! Thank you!!!
I was diagnosed today with guttate psoriasis due to a strep throat, my doctor prescribed me antibiotics but I really don’t want to take them, so I ‘m confused.. Am I a good candidate now to be considered as healthy and follow the natural route? Should I take the antibiotics to have my psoriasis cleared up too? Because the doctor told me that if I don’t cure my throat problem then my psriasis will also remain. I don’t feel anything in particular in my throat, no discomfort or pain, but since I was a child (I ‘m 26 now) I ‘ve had serious reoccuring fever and problems with my throat. Today when the doc told me my utensil are swollen, to me they appeared normal, just like they look my entire life.. My utensils are also full of holes, could I have a strep throat all this years without knowing?
You are not a good candidate for this remedy as psoriasis is an autoimmune condition.
Antibiotics responds very effectively for me and i was back to work next day.
I’m super glad this worked for you but please be careful I got strep once in my early 20’s (very healthy also) and went untreated for weeks, then not properly treated for another week or so, it turned into rheumatic fever and I was very very sick for months, even after 2 rounds of antibiotic. I could barely walk due to joint pain and was covered in a rash and swollen joints. I hope I am immune now but please be careful I never take even and advil if I can avoid it but seriously no one wants rheumatic fever I thought I was going to die. So if you dont feel better soon just please get antibiotics.
Hi Sarah
I had written to you before about getting strep symptoms again after Coming off the treatment too early. I started the treatment again Sunday and I was very good at following the instructions. Wednesday and Thursday however was a little harder as I had a busier day at work and was not able to take the garlic mix every hour. Maybe it was more like every 3 hours during the day but when I was home in the evening it was every hour. But the symptoms did go away and I felt really good. But yesterday I started to feel tired and a little achy inside and my throat was a little scratchy and I felt a bit of a headache start. My neck is starting to hurt as well and a little tender to touch. I was really on point Friday with the garlic remedy. Just wondering if it sounds like it could be coming back since I felt good before or if it’s normal to have off days? I really want this to work since I’ve been so frustrated catching strep several times a year.
Obviously I’m not a doctor and am only telling you a remedy that works very well for people in good health. If you are having trouble, then please do see a doctor and get meds. I’ve never had a relapse using natural antibiotics that I kept using for 2-3 days after symptoms subsided. If you are relapsing, please take this as a sign that you need to see a doctor.