Strep throat is a
contagious bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat.
It is also referred as Streptococcal pharyngitis or streptococcal sore throat;
it is a common condition only ever caused by Streptococcus bacteria. Strep throat
can affect both adults as well as children. However, it is more common among
children between ages 5 to 15 years. Sneezing
and coughing can spread the infection from one person to another.
Streptococcal bacteria
are extremely contagious and can spread through airborne droplets when a sick
person sneezes or coughs. Most of the sore throats are caused by viruses, most
commonly a cold or flu virus. A viral sore throat will typically get better by
itself, and has a low probability of complications.
Symptoms of strep throat
The
severity of strep throat may differ from person-to-person. Some people
experience mild symptoms like a sore throat, whereas other people have more
severe symptoms including fever and difficulty swallowing. The common
symptoms of strep throat include:
·
A sore, red throat with white patches
·
A sudden fever, especially if it’s 101˚f or
higher
·
Chills
·
Swollen and tender glands (lymph) on the sides
of the neck
·
Trouble swallowing
·
Tonsils are painful and/or swollen
·
A loss of appetite
·
Body aches
·
General discomfort, feeling ill or uneasy
·
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
·
Headache, nausea and vomiting
The symptoms of
strep throat typically develop within five days of exposure to the bacteria.
Complications
Potential
complications if it is left untreated strep throat can cause serious health
condition such as, sinus infection (sinusitis), ear infection (otitis media) ,
meningitis, pneumonia, kidney disease, rheumatic fever and heart. Of these,
rheumatic fever, kidney disease and heart are of most concern.
Diagnosis
The
health care specialist will examine the patient and look for signs of strep
throat or throat infection. At the initial stage it is impossible to
understand, whether it is caused due to bacteria or some infection. As some
viral infection, may show a worst sign than a cause by streptococcal bacteria.
Your
doctor may advise you to do one or more of the following tests to find out the
actual cause:
·
Throat culture
·
Rapid antigen test
·
Rapid DNA test
Treatment
1.
Antibiotics
If you’re diagnosed
with strep throat, your doctor will prescribe you an antibiotic to treat the
infection.
·
Antibiotics are only used when the throat
infection is severe
·
Penicillin and amoxicillin are the most common
medications given for a strep infection.
·
It’s important that you finish your antibiotic
treatment course to kill the infection completely.
·
Stopping the treatment or medication course in
between can trigger a relapse.
2.
Surgery
Tonsillectomy - if
somebody, usually has tonsillitis (infection of the tonsils) then the doctor
may suggest taking them out surgically (having a tonsillectomy).
3.
Alternative Remedies
There
are a number of at-home care remedies to improve the symptoms of strep throat.
They are:
·
drinking warm liquids
·
Cool drinks and cool soft foods may help to numb the
throat
·
turning on a cool-mist humidifier
·
taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or
acetaminophen
·
sucking on throat lozenges
·
gargling the mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of water
·
avoiding foods or drinks that are very hot, they may cause
irritation may reduce swelling and alleviate pain
Prevention
However,
it is nearly impossible to prevent strep throats that are caused by bacteria or
viral infections. Here are some preventive measures that you can consider to
reduce the frequency of strep throat and probably help prevent further
complications.
·
Follow a rich and a well-balanced diet to boost
the immune system
·
Regular exercise helps the immune system.
·
Lack of sleep weakens your immune system.
·
Quit smoking
·
Wash your hands regularly; it is an effective
way of preventing most infections.
·
Cover the mouth when coughing - this protects
other people.
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