Hi,
Is it likely or possible for a person/child to get strep throat again after having a tonsillectomy? I thought "strep throat" was the same thing as "tonsillitis" . .... no more tonsils, no more strep throat... ???

31pumpkin

Children or adults who have had their tonsills removed can still get strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis). You did not have your glands or throat removed, etc., and this is a fact.
It is contagious upon close contact. This is usually not the same "sore throat" associated with a cold. Many times children put things in their mouth that are "dirty". Antibiotics for sure, to prevent the bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body. See your Dr. for temperature 101 or ^, sore throat with severe pain on swallowing.

J_9

Strep throat is a bacterial infection. It is communicable, which means that it can be caught by anyone.

I have to agree with Pumpkin here. You can get it whether or not you have had your tonsills out.

Tonsils are considered part of your lympatic system, which is a filter for bacteria.

So, yes, it is entirely possible to get strep throat after your tonsils are removed. Believe me, I have had it and I had my tonsils removed 32 years ago.

You need to find out if another child or someone in close proximity has it.

AKaeTrue

Hi thank you,
I'm guessing my daughter picked it up at school.
The Dr. just looked at it and said it was strep throat (no culture) - no one else in the family got it and I heard strep was very very contagious. She had it once before and her tonsils swelled and were very red . The swelling never went away, so they did a tonsillectomy a year later. This time, when they said she had strep, the back of her throat had white sores on it.
It just didn't look the same and had me very worried.
Thank you both.

J_9

Oh, yes, the white sores are a tell-tale sign of strep. Sometimes it looks like teeny tiny cottonballs in the back of the throat.

I will look more like this once the tonsils are removed since the tonsils are part of the lympatic system that "catches" the bacteria are gone, the bacteria will "attach" to the back of the tongue and throat.

Hope all is well now.