Ask a doctor on the topic of General medicine

Untreated streptococcal infection

September 7, 2015 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Christian Welsch

I had a streptococcal infection 4 years ago, unfortunately I did not treat it with medication. Now I am feeling worse and worse, I am exhausted, tired, weak, have a general feeling of weakness, difficulty swallowing, joint pain that jumps from joint to joint, and sometimes involuntary facial grimacing and hand movements.
My question is, can streptococci still be detected in my body after 4 years, and if so, how, and which blood values are crucial to check?
Can streptococci survive without treatment for so long, i.e. four years in my body?

Christian Welsch

Dear questioner, Streptococci do not survive in the blood, but may survive as a chronic infection in the tonsils, teeth, and sinuses. Therefore, it would be advisable to have an examination with an ENT specialist, as well as clarification with your general practitioner (blood test, vitamin D, thyroid levels). If you also snore, a sleep laboratory screening would be recommended. Regards, C. Welsch