The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) November 9, 2005 has a great little article about the treatment of sore throat in kids.? They say that more than 50% of kids got antibiotics when only about 15-30% could possibly have strep.? That matters because strep can cause all sorts of ugly heart and kidney problems if not treated. On the other hand overuse of antibiotics for sore throats that aren't strep can cause resistant bacteria and immune problems in little ones.
I recommend a nice integration of this article's strengths with alternative treatments for upper respiratory infection.? If you have the following symptoms you should get tested for strep throat:
- Rapid (acute) onset of sore throat
- Fever
- Headache
- Abdominal Pain (did you know that?)
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Neck lymph node swelling and tenderness
Other symptoms suggest that the problem is probably viral :
- Runny and red eyes
- diarrhea
- cough
- hoarseness (almost always viral)
- cold sores in the mouth and throat
If the problem is clearly strep then the drug of choice is penicillin.? If it's something else then the choice is different.? Let me make a few suggestions.? If the problems is a virus then the treatment should?anti-viral.? Lomatium Extract, Black Elderberry Extract and others available at the health food store will help shorten the course of illness and improve symptoms during recovery.? Other agents stimulate immune function and are broad-spectrum against a whole range of "bugs":
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Grapefruit Seed extract
- Uva Ursi
- Garlic and Oregano (great on Italian bread as well!)
The contemporary medical literature is nearly devoid of the consideration of plant-based compounds.? Because these agents aren't part of the main- stream approach their use is mostly ignored.? People generally know better than to take this single opinion as fact and venture out to the health food store or somewhere that embraces natural solutions. I advise a respect for both camps.? Strep is serious business and a conventional doctor has the tools to do combat effectively.? When that same doctor tells you to just "suck it up" and deal with the infection without treatment besides pain medicine it's time to look further.? There is a world of solutions that can work for you and your family if you're willing to become informed.? This winter will be like most others.? There will be sore throats and colds.? Choose wisely when it comes to treatment.? Natural?might just?be better this time around.
