Can you get strep if tonsils have been removed?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all, quick question, can I still get strep if I had my tonsils removed as a kid? I've had a swollen, dry and very sore throat for over a week, have been very nauseous and just feeling yucky. Is strep a possibility without tonsils? I tried to find information through online searches can't find an answer to the question. Thanks for any help!

Indy said:
Lovely. So how accurate is the rapid strep test?

Rapd Strep tests are 99% accurate. That is why you do a culture, because the strep bacteria will grow out. Double safe!

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CHATSDALE said:

Had a family who had strep going around in circles...Some of the kids had reoccurring boils..Some had strep..Some with infantigo [sp?] I hope that they didn't have any worse problems like the heart problems listed above

Be real careful around pts who present with this use the precautions etc

And do get help when you need it...

I bet there is a strep carrier in the family. That is not uncommon. All family members should be tested and treated. I have seen patients tested for strep and the results were positive and the pt did not even have any strep symptoms! I also saw a patient become septic from strep. It was a mess. His upper limbs were completely swollen and sore. He could not move. He looked like a baby wrapped up in a snowsuit. He was so stiff and his arms hurt him so badly. My fear was his throat was closing. I will never forget how sick he looked. I called the doctor in right away. He came out and said WOW! He called in another pediatrician to confirm his diagnosis, admitted him to the hospital for IV antibiotics and treatment.

Another thing that can happen with strep: In children, you can have absolutely ZERO symptoms present, but the child may start displaying bad behavior. There is a name for this and it only happens within a certain age, primarily with boys. It is quite interesting actually. A pediatrician had such a patient like this. No strep symptoms at all. His behavior had become so bad and this child was usually not like that. The mom said she was at her wit's end in disciplining the child and did not know what to do. The doc told her, let's just try a strep test. The mom looked confused, but agreed. The child's throat was swabbed and the test result came back positive! I am not certain what it is called, I will ask a doc and get back to this. Interesting, if anyone knows, I would love hearing more about it so I could look it up!

KN:nurse:

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KuteNurse said:

I bet there is a strep carrier in the family. That is not uncommon. All family members should be tested and treated. I have seen patients tested for strep and the results were positive and the pt did not even have any strep symptoms! I also saw a patient become septic from strep. It was a mess. His upper limbs were completely swollen and sore. He could not move. He looked like a baby wrapped up in a snowsuit. He was so stiff and his arms hurt him so badly. My fear was his throat was closing. I will never forget how sick he looked. I called the doctor in right away. He came out and said WOW! He called in another pediatrician to confirm his diagnosis, admitted him to the hospital for IV antibiotics and treatment.

Another thing that can happen with strep: In children, you can have absolutely ZERO symptoms present, but the child may start displaying bad behavior. There is a name for this and it only happens within a certain age, primarily with boys. It is quite interesting actually. A pediatrician had such a patient like this. No strep symptoms at all. His behavior had become so bad and this child was usually not like that. The mom said she was at her wit's end in disciplining the child and did not know what to do. The doc told her, let's just try a strep test. The mom looked confused, but agreed. The child's throat was swabbed and the test result came back positive! I am not certain what it is called, I will ask a doc and get back to this. Interesting, if anyone knows, I would love hearing more about it so I could look it up!

Thanks for a nurse practitioner who listed the name in another thread. It is called PANDAS. PANDAS- Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep. It is quite interesting. A pediatrician gave a talk on it. I will try to find some links to attach so those who are also interested can read it.

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/113/4/883.full

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/104454602760219199

There are a couple of helpful links.

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CHATSDALE said:

Had a family who had strep going around in circles...Some of the kids had reoccurring boils..Some had strep..Some with infantigo [sp?] I hope that they didn't have any worse problems like the heart problems listed above

Be real careful around pts who present with this use the precautions etc

And do get help when you need it...

I used to work in an animal hospital....they cultured a dog's nose for strep because the family kept getting it over and over. From what I remember it was positive and the dog got antibiotics.

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Run don't walk to the doctor. About six weeks ago I had a "minor" scratchy throat, achy, tired.....then I broke out in red rash all over my body and in the palms of my hands.....sure enough.....scarlet fever.....I spent a miserable few days. When my throat started to really hurt, it felt like I was swallowing razor blades. I am better now, but I did manage to infect my DH, and two children!

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tollern said:
Run don't walk to the doctor. About six weeks ago I had a "minor" scratchy throat, achy, tired.....then I broke out in red rash all over my body and in the palms of my hands.....sure enough.....scarlet fever.....I spent a miserable few days. When my throat started to really hurt, it felt like I was swallowing razor blades. I am better now, but I did manage to infect my DH, and two children!

LOL!

When I had strep a couple of weeks ago, I had no symptoms other than a scratchy throat and minor cold symptoms. I thought I just had a cold so I was taking advil sinus and cold. Finally late in the week, I came to work late and asked a pediatrician to look at my throat and see if I should get a throat swab. She said, YES! Go get one! And put it under my name! lol I was swabbed and sure enough...+strep in a matter of minutes! I got to go home from work! lol

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

Well, my rapid strep test yesterday was negative. But I got it done because of a real exposure to it, so I wanted to be safe. My NP started me on ten days of augmentin anyhow, so I didn't feel a culture was necessary. My poor dog. I don't want to give anything to him, so he thinks I'm not very friendly the last couple of days. My daughter is bound and determined to hug me no matter what I tell her about getting sick.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Tonsils can grow back. I had mine removed as a child. A few years ago a physician commented during a physical "tonsils look fine, I guess your's grew back." I thought he was pulling my leg. I didn't believe him. So a while later when I saw another doctor, I asked if my tonsils were red, or very large. He looked and said they were fine, and described the appearance LOL.

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multicollinarity said:
Tonsils can grow back. I had mine removed as a child. A few years ago a physician commented during a physical "tonsils look fine, I guess your's grew back." I thought he was pulling my leg. I didn't believe him. So a while later when I saw another doctor, I asked if my tonsils were red, or very large. He looked and said they were fine, and described the appearance LOL.

EWWWWWWWWWWW!! lol

Yes, I have heard that if they are not removed properly they can grow back! Pretty disgusting if you ask me! I am NOT going through another tonsilectomy! lol At age 36, having a tonsilectomy was bad enough! Good luck if you have to have your out!

KN

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Ok what if I have been on antibiotics and the symptoms persist? The pain is in my neck chin and ears and has spread to my left side. I can hardly swallow food now and my tongue feels swollen. very headachey and tired. My grand daughter had to be treated for strep twice. She is better. I thought I could not get strep because my tonsils have been removed, but my throat is so swollen esp. on RS :down:

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Yes, you can get strep throat.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
ibby727 said:

Ok what if I have been on antibiotics and the symptoms persist? The pain is in my neck chin and ears and has spread to my left side. I can hardly swallow food now and my tongue feels swollen. very headachey and tired. My grand daughter had to be treated for strep twice. She is better. I thought I could not get strep because my tonsils have been removed, but my throat is so swollen esp. on RS :down:

Then it's probably viral, which is why the antibiotics haven't helped?

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