What you Need to Know about Strep Throat

Strep throat is one of the most frequent infections that affect children and teens aging from 5 to 15 years old. Also, it is one of the common reasons why children suffer from fever, red tonsils, and sore throat.

What is a strep throat?

A strep throat is an infection of the tonsils and the throat that is caused by the Streptococcus group of bacteria. The bacteria irritate the throat and tonsils, causing them to inflame and redden. If left untreated, these bacteria can cause a downward infection of the heart and can lead to rheumatic heart disease.

How is strep throats spread?

Anybody can acquire a step throat because it can easily be transmitted from the infected person to another person. The bacteria that cause strep throats grow and stay in the throat and nose. Normal activities such as coughing and sneezing can easily pass on the bacteria from one person to another.

Infected persons also carry the bacteria in their hands especially if they cover their mouth with their hands when they sneeze and cough. If they don't wash their hands frequently, the can spread the bacteria through handshake. They can also leave the bacteria in doorknobs and through any things that they touch and get in contact with.

What are the symptoms of strep throat?

After your child has been exposed to the bacteria, it will take an average of 2-5 days before the symptoms start to develop. The first thing that you will notice is a rise in the temperature, usually over 101 F. The child will have a fever for an average of 3 days. On the second day of the fever, it will tend to peak and is accompanied by other symptoms of the strep throat infection such as sore throat, chills, nausea, stomachache and headache.

Your child will most probably complain of a pain upon swallowing and talking. You will notice upon inspection of the tonsils and throat that they are beefy red and swollen. In most cases, the tonsils are covered with a yellow, white, or gray coat. You will also notice that the lymph nodes in the neck become swollen and tender. Another symptom that you will observe is purple and red spots that will develop on the roof of the mouth. These symptoms may not occur in all cases, just depending on the severity of the condition. Less common symptoms of strep throats are vomiting, red skin rash, body aches, and not feeling hungry.

What is the difference between a sore throat and strep throat?

Not all sore throats can be considered strep throat infections. It generally depends on the causative agent that is causing the infection. If it is Streptococcal bacteria, then the infection is called a strep throat. If the causative agent is other than that, such as other bacteria and viruses, then it is just a sore throat. A strep throat is more dangerous than an ordinary sore throat because the Streptococcus can attack the heart and the kidney causing great complications.

How is it diagnosed?

If you are suspecting that your child has a strep throat, you need to seek medical attention at once. The physician will require a physical exam and a history of the condition. A rapid strep test may also be required to diagnose if the infection is really a strep throat. If the physician is still in doubt, then a throat culture is necessary. The result of a rapid strep test can be available within 20 minutes while a throat culture usually takes a few days.

What are the treatments?

The most common method of treatment for strep throats is by taking an antibiotic medication that is usually prescribed for 10 days. Some physicians will also prescribe Ibuprofen together with an antibiotic to relieve the pain.

Other ways of relieving from the symptoms of strep throat are by gargling with warm salt water, eating soft foods, drinking plenty of water and avoiding spicy and acidic foods.

How can it be prevented?

If you have someone in the family who has a strep throat, it is best to prevent its spread by thoroughly cleaning the dishes, utensils, drinking glasses and other things that comes in contact with the affected person. It is best to teach your child proper hygiene like using his or her own personal belongings especially handkerchiefs and towels. Proper hand washing is also necessary to prevent your child from acquiring the infection.

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