how many days antibiotics for strep for kids?

[LilacGarden]

I live in the USA. I am researching to see how many days ( and what type) of antibiotics are prescribed for children for strep throat. Here it is 10 days of amoxicillin, twice a day. I read that in some countries in Europe 5 or 7 day courses are prescribed, so I am researching this. Thank you

In the UK there really isn't the term Strep Throat - it's called a throat infection or if it's mild a sore throat.
Antibiotics are not usually prescribed unless the throat has white spots on it. I've suffered with numerous throat infections and antibiotics are discouraged unless tonsils are infected or there's other symptoms e.g. Sinus infection etc. I have been prescribed either 5 or 7 days worth of Amoxycillin when I have had tonsillitis in the past.
In the UK we are now discouraged from taking too many courses of antibiotics as infections/bugs are becoming antibiotic resistant due to over use of antibiotics. GPs will prescribe or suggest other treatments for minor illnesses like sore throats.

hmm I didnt know that. Here, my child (9 year old) had a sore throat yesterday- significant enough that I took him to the doctor. The doctor said his tonsils were red inflamed and he had white pus on them. He did a throat culture/ swab and said he tested positive for strep throat. He said I should give him the ten days of amoxicillin. I did a lot of internet research which said antibiotics are not always necessary for strep- and I generally avoid antibiotics whenever possible, my son has taken them once before when he was 4. But the general idea where I live is that to be safe kids MUST take the antibiotics. He is currently on day 2 and I am researching the duration that would be safe and healthy to give him. 10 days seems extreme to me so I am trying to figure out what to do. Thank you

and salsamad- so in the UK if a child is prescribed antibiotics for a sore throat with white spots etcetera, is it 5-7 days?

If the guidance where you are from says 10 days, you should stick to that. Antibiotic choice and duration is based on many things including local resistance patterns which will not be the same in the US and the UK.

Feel free to discuss with your doctor whether a shorter course would be adequate for your child. But asking strangers on a forum is not the right way to make these decisions!

A suspected or confirmed strep throat here would be treated with 10 days of phenoxymethyl penicillin (x4 a day)

I'm in the uk too and slightly disagree with pp.
Yes we are absolutely discouraged from taking antibiotics unless absolutely needed, as overuse means they eventually may not work.
However, if you are prescribed them by a doctor then you MUST complete the full course - whatever that may be. Your strength may be different to uk so you may not be able to compare number of days prescribed.
Also Strep Throat does exist here - it is a certain type of bacterial infection sore throat that if not treated correctly can lead to further complications. I thought my son had this last month so took him to the doctors but doctor could see it wasn't strep.
I hope your dc is better soon.

I am not making the decision just based on the forum I am just researching if it is done differently in countries other than where I live ,

UK guidance is actually 10 days (of penicillin V) if concerned that it's strep. Of course, the vast majority of tonsillitis is viral, but if we're worried enough to treat then we do it fully.

It depends DS is prone to them and depending on severity it has varied from
Amocillian 5 days 3 times
Amoxicillin 7 days 3 times
In Austria a strong antibiotic once a day 3 times (seen as equivalent of a 5 day course amoxicillin
Pencillin 4 times a day 10 days (scarlet fever)
A really strong antibiotic 4 times for 10 days when amoxicillin didn’t clear it
BUT the worse thing to do with antibiotic resistance is start and not complete the course