Fighting Strep Throat

Answer 1

Have a sore throat? Chances are good you have nothing to worry about. But if that soreness is more severe, you might have strep throat, which is a bacterial infection that affects your throat and tonsils. Being examined by a doctor would be a good idea, since he can do a rapid test, but this can be wrong in a few cases. A rapid test can be followed up by a throat swab test to see if strep is present. This commonly takes one to two days for results to come back from the laboratory.

There are many types of strep viruses, some causing more serious illnesses than others. Generally speaking, strep will run its course in three to five days, with or without treatment. In most cases, however, treatment with an antibiotic will prevent the problem from being contagious or from developing into more serious ailments. Left untreated, strep throat can worsen, causing such complications as kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever, which can lead to painful and inflamed joints, a rash and even permanent damage to heart valves.

Strep throat is most common in young people between the ages of five and 15, but it can affect people of all ages. If you or your child has symptoms of strep throat, see your doctor for prompt treatment. Regardless of age, patients should stay home from school or work until the symptoms disappear.

Cases of strep throat can be very mild, with only a few symptoms, or it may be severe. People with strep throat start showing symptoms from two to five days after they are exposed to the bacteria, most often from others who are coughing and sneezing.

Symptoms usually begin suddenly, and can include:

* A high fever

* Red, irritated throat, often accompanied by white patches

* Sore throat

* Headache

* Stomach ache

* Nausea

* Chills

* General discomfort

* Loss of appetite

* Tender, swollen lymph nodes in the neck

* Difficulty swallowing

Use of Penicillin or amoxicillin have been the most traditional treatments for strep.

The prescribed antibiotics should be taken for the recommended course of treatment, even though symptoms are usually gone after few days.

Other household treatments may also help alleviate discomfort:

* Drink warm liquids. Honey or lemon tea is a time-tested remedy.

* Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (1/2 tsp of salt in 1 cup water).

* Drink cold liquids or suck on popsicles to soothe the sore throat.

* Suck on hard candies or throat lozenges. This is often as effective as more expensive remedies, but should not be used in young children because of the choking risk.

* Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to moisten and soothe a dry and painful throat.

Get a new toothbrush after you are no longer contagious, but before finishing the antibiotics. Otherwise the bacteria can live in the toothbrush and re-infect you when the antibiotics are done. Also, keep your family’s toothbrushes and utensils separate, unless they have been washed.

If repeated cases of strep still occur in a family, you might check to see if someone is a strep carrier. Carriers have strep in their throats, but the bacteria do not make them sick. Sometimes, treating them can prevent others from getting strep throat.