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Strep throat and immunosupresents

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/12/2012 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Have had a sore throat for 2 days now and have developed a white spot in the back of my throat. I've never had that before. Am thinking I might be getting strep throat. Kind of worried about this being that I take Humira once a week and Azathioprine 100mg a day. Should I call the GI? Not sure if I should since it's not necessarily GI related. sad
Posted 11/13/2012 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Wow that sounds exactly like me! I take azathroprine and humira once a week. I've been quite for the last two weeks with a real bad cold- haven't gone to the doctor yet, although my mom keeps urging me to.
I'm going to hold off a couple of days on my humira to give my body a chance to fight this virus. You may want to call your GI to see if they agree with that. It all depends on how sick you are both cold wise and crohns wise!
Hope you feel better! :)
Posted 11/13/2012 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Strep is a bacterial infection and can happen to anyone. If you think you have a strep infection you should go see a regular doc and ask for a rapid strep test. Be sure to tell them what meds you are taking.
Posted 11/13/2012 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Spoke to the GI and he told me to go to a walgreens take care clinic to get a rapid strep test. Ended up going and got negative on the strep test but the doctor said I have a nasty infection with pus coming out. Diagnosed me with tonsillitis and gave me penicillin. Left a message for the GI since I think he should know since it is an infection and with all the immunosuppressants I'm taking I thought it was best to let him know. Thank you for your responses!
Posted 11/13/2012 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
If the rapid strep test was negative then it is unlikely you have any bacterial infection in your tonsils. I wouldn't take that penicillin without a positive strep because antibiotics just wreak havoc with a Crohn's belly. If your Crohn's is in remission with the Humira you might take it, but I still think it's a waste of an antibiotic. See this article for information about tonisillitus: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/sore-throat-cold-strep-throat-tonsillitis
Posted 11/13/2012 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Just a few words of very recent experience! My family doctor two weeks ago suggested I could have possible strep, he said an antibiotic shot some mild antibiotics for a short dose sound be gentle enough on my crohns!
3 days worth if antibiotics and I think 2 weeks later that I am now in a flare.... Personally I'd think twice next time knowing just how much it has upset my stomach and that in theory I still feel just as bad as before!

If you take them I'm crossing my fingers for you that they are gentler on your guts! And I am crossing my fingers you feel better very soon!
Posted 11/13/2012 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to add that taking the antibiotics in the absence of a positive strep test will mean that you won't get better any faster. The antibiotics are useless in treating tonsillitus unless it's bacterial (which it's not, since your strep test was negative - unless they also did a regular culture which should come back in another day or so and tell you if you have strep).  Do you have a high fever?  Do you have bad breath?   These are also indicators of a strep infection.
Posted 11/13/2012 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
And on the other side of this debate, I've never had a problem taking antibiotics and later having a flare. So once again, a case of everyone's reactions to drugs/treatment etc. being different.
Posted 11/14/2012 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
Is it possible that there could be a bacterial infection, other than strep? Perhaps a culture and sensitivity test would be a good idea.
Posted 11/14/2012 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm still taking the Penicillin, I spoke to the GI and he agreed I should take it. I haven't had a problem taking anti biotics. I took Cipro and Flagyl in July and did not have a problem. And have taken others too so hopefully this won't cause a flare.

I was told to stop taking azathioprine while taking penicillin which I hope that doesn't mess me up. I wasn't given a strep culture maybe since it was in a small walgreens clinic? I had gargled an anti septic before going to the clinic which I didn't know you weren't supposed to do so maybe that's why it came back negative?

I thought pus could only come from a bacterial infection. But I might be wrong. And I know what pus looks like as I've had it come out from other places from abscesses and fistulas.
Posted 11/14/2012 11:49 AM (GMT 0)
Please just make sure to be taking a probiotic while you take antibiotics! I got c. diff. from just simple antibiotics, and it wreaks havoc on my whole system.
Posted 11/15/2012 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks sci if gal. Will definitely take some pro biotics. Dang penicillin is giving me diarrhea all day! Never had that happen with the other anti biotics I've taken! :(
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