What are the most common symptoms of strep throat?

Answer 1

Sore throats are a common condition that can have any number of causes. Post-nasal drip can cause the throat to become irritated. Excessive smoking can cause it, and a number of viral and bacterial conditions can contribute to the condition as well. One common bacterial infection that causes a sore throat and a fever as its two most common symptoms is strep throat.

Most people get strep throat when they are children. As long as it is caught in time it is normally treated with a course of antibiotics that help the immune system do its job. Schools will usually demand that the child stay away from school for up to 24 hours after his symptoms have cleared up.

A concerned parent who suspects his or her child might have contacted strep throat can help the diagnosis by making sure that the child is not coughing, sneezing or suffering from other cold symptoms. The condition is usually accompanied by a fever of 101 degrees or higher. Swollen lymph nodes also let a parent know that a child has a problem. If any of these symptoms occur, the best bet is to make a doctor’s appointment and see what he can do.

Teenagers do get this sickness as well, but there is another condition, infectious mononucleosis that causes many of the same symptoms. If a teenager has been kissing, the odds are good that it is mono and not strep throat. Parents can do their teens and themselves a favor by not asking who they were kissing. A good medical professional will ask the same questions to determine who else might have been infected. Mononucleosis also includes fatigue as a symptom, which strep throat does not.

The previous paragraphs have referred to strep throat as being a common condition in children. That does not mean it cannot occur in adults. It can and the symptoms are the same. People who have weakened immune systems due to age or conditions such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome can have this condition occur with other conditions.

Answer 2

There are those who will confuse the signs of the common cold with the common symptoms of strep throat. Strep throat is not a viral infection even though the main sign of strep is a sore throat and most of them are viral. Streptococcal bacteria is the cause of strep throat.

The very first sign that strep throat has occurred is the sudden and severe sore throat. There is no sneezing, coughing or other symptoms that go along with this extremely painful sore throat. If more cold symptoms are present, it is less plausible that the sore throat is strep. It is common to have a problem or pain while swallowing. The lymph nodes in the neck are swollen. The fever in strep throat maintains a higher temperature of over 101F while a viral infection will have a lower reading.

Other signs to watch for are a coating or yellow or white spots on the throat and tonsils. There also may be dark red spots on the roof of the mouth near the back of the throat, or a bright red throat. The occurrence of swollen tonsils may be a sign, however, this can also be a symptom of a viral infection.

Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are more common in children although they can still occur in adults.

In more severe or rare cases of strep throat, a skin rash will occur and begin on the neck and chest before spreading over the entire body. This rash would be rough and gritty to the touch. When this happens, it is the scarlet fever condition. This condition is not serious if it is immediately treated with antibiotics.

Even though adults can develop strep throat, it is much more common with children up to those in their teens. Most of them occur between the ages of 5 to 15 years. Unfortunately, since strep is highly contagious, it is easily spread from a school child to the adults at home. To avoid this from happening, antibiotics should be taken quickly. After 24 hours of antiobiotic treatment, the strep is no longer able to spread.

Answer 3

Severe throat pain and fever. Strep is very dangerous. It can cause heart problems and joint problems. It really should be treated by a physician.

Answer 4

flamed up red tonsils. hurts to swallow. coughing and pain in throat