Cold, Flu and Viral Infections Forum - Infections that cause sore throat

You wrote:

"Current medical status: 1. December 18th, 2007 - sore throat started 2. December 26th, 2007 - throat still sore, also moderate to severe muscle and joint pain all over body; admitted to hospital same day. 3. Dec. 26th - Doctor prescribes antibiotics (chlarythromycin) for a bacterial infection, although no tests were done to confirm a bacteria infection 4. January 2, 2008 - antibiotics are finished and I feel fine 5. January 16, 2008 - same symptoms return; starts with a sore throat and progressives to muscle and joint pain around body 6. January 18 - went to hospital, and doctors prescribes antibiotics without testing for bacteria, this time erythromycin 7. January 25 - antibiotics are finished and symptoms are gone 8. January 27 - same symptoms return (sore throat and body pain) 9. Jan. 28 - went to hospital, doctor does a strep test; test is negative; prescribes anti-inflamatory medicine and throat gargling medicine
Current medical treatment: Anti-inflammatories and throat relief medicine"

You'll need to request a microbiological examination (pharynx sample) in order to isolate the infective agent and possible cause of these symptoms. A negative strep-test indicates that the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes is not the cause of the infection. Furthermore, you can’t be sure that the inflammation you describe is caused by an infection or an allergy.

Both antibiotics you’ve used are large-spectral and act against most bacterial species. Because the symptoms are still persistent, the infection could be also be viral. Finally, there is a possibility that there is no infection present at all, but perhaps you are experiencing an allergy. Nonetheless, a microbiological examination SHOULD be done to isolate possible bacteria (if there are any). You can consult an ENT-specialist to follow up.

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