Erie pediatricians see more strep throat cases while treatment drug remains in short supply
Erie-area pediatricians are seeing an increase in strep throat cases while also dealing with a chronic shortage of the best antibiotic to treat the common childhood infection.
Cases have risen in recent weeks, but Dr. Robert Burns has treated children with strep throat steadily through the summer.
"Usually it slows down in the summer, but this year it never went away," said Burns, a pediatrician with UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics — West Millcreek. "We stayed busy all summer. It wasn't an epidemic but busier than usual. Now we're seeing an increase."
Strep throat is usually treated with amoxicillin, an antibiotic that has been available for about 50 years. But amoxicillin, especially the popular liquid form of the drug, has been in short supply for more than a year, according to the Food & Drug Administration.
The shortage is due to an increased demand for the antibiotic and not production delays or other issues, the FDA reported.
What is causing the increase in strep throat cases?
Strep throat's recent surge doesn't appear to be caused by the amoxicillin shortage, but rather a relatively new, more invasive group-A strain that first appeared about a decade ago.
Other antibiotics can be used to treat strep throat, but amoxicillin works best, Burns said.
"One reason is because it is a very limited spectrum antibiotic, meaning it treats the bacteria you want to treat, and doesn't kill good bacteria or cause drug resistance," Burns said. "It's also cheap and it doesn't cause many side effects."
Burns' office has had limited success having amoxicillin prescriptions filled at area pharmacies. The grocery-store and locally owned pharmacies seem to have amoxicillin in stock more frequently, the pediatrician said.
More: Erie drug stores close: How do you switch pharmacies?
Other antibiotics can be prescribed to treat strep throat, including azithromycin and cephalexin.
"The nice thing about amoxicillin is that the liquid form of the drug tastes good, so children don't mind taking it," said Dr. John Kalata, a family physician with LECOM Health's Eastside Medical Center.
Older children more likely to get strep throat
Kalata said his office has seen a slight increase in strep throat cases in recent weeks, but cautioned that he sees relatively few pediatric patients. Strep throat is most common in children between the ages of five and 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
It's also the age range when strep throat needs to be treated, Burns said.
"The main reason to treat strep is to prevent rheumatic fever, which can be a complication," Burns said. "That is most likely to occur in children between three and 15. Babies and adults don't tend to develop rheumatic fever, so we are more likely to let strep throat run its course."
Not all sore throats are strep. Some are caused by viruses and won't respond to antibiotics, Burns said.
"A good rule of thumb is that the more congested you are with a sore throat, the less chance you have that it is strep," Burns said.
Even the white patches on the tonsils, long considered a symptom of strep throat, can occur with viral infections. A more likely strep symptom is red spots on the roof of the mouth.
Burns recommended a rapid strep test, which can be done at the physician's office or purchased at most pharmacies.
How to reduce your chances of getting strep throat
The best way to prevent strep throat is to follow good hygiene practices. They include:
Washing your hands with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the bathroom
Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue, or the crook of your arm, when you cough or sneeze
No sharing of eating utensils or toothbrushes
Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ETNBruce.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie doctors seeing more strep throat cases with amoxicillin shortage
