DEAR DR. GOTT: When my son was in elementary school, I took him to the doctor for a sore throat with fever. He stated it was probably a virus and to just treat it with Tylenol, rest and fluids. After a few days the sore throat cleared and my son was feeling better. I believe it was about two weeks later that we returned to the doctor because I noticed he had a very enlarged lymph node in his neck and a sore neck. The doctor’s eyes about popped out of his head and he exclaimed, “He’s got strep!” He then prescribed an antibiotic and the node went down and my son has seemed fine. He is now 16 years old and during a routine BP check at school he was found to have an elevated BP. I recheck him at home and it was 140/84. could this be related to the late treatment for strep? I know that untreated strep can cause heart problems. The doctor I had seen is no longer in the same practice and I would not go back to him in any case. How concerned should I be? What are your recommendations?
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Is strep therapy linked with hypertension?
Psoriasis caused by strep throat
DEAR DR. GOTT: My 10-year-old grandson has had guttate psoriasis for more than a year. His dermatologist said it was caused by strep throat. Although the strep throat is no longer a problem, the psoriasis definitely is. Last summer, it faded with exposure to sunlight. Until February, it wasn’t too bad, but for the past several months it has been terrible. The red spots are literally all over him, even on the bottoms of his feet. He is using a steroid cream, which seems to have little or no effect, and takes Concerta for ADHD.
Can you offer any suggestions? Can diet, clothing, detergents, stress and/or animals affect this problem?
DEAR READER: Guttate psoriasis is a noncontagious, uncommon form of psoriasis that presents with small, red spots that resemble teardrops appearing on the arms, legs, trunk and other skin surfaces. [Read more...]