Strep Throat: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
A common bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils, strep throat causes pain, fever, and difficulty swallowing. Strep throat is not usually serious, but it can sometimes lead to complications like kidney failure and rheumatic fever. As part of this blog post, we will discuss what causes strep throat, recognize its symptoms, diagnose it, treat it, and prevent it.
What causes strep throat?
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for streptococcus throat. These bacteria can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, such as those produced by coughing or sneezing. If you touch something with the bacteria on it, like a doorknob, and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes, you may become infected.
The GAS bacteria can be carried in the throat of some people without causing any symptoms. These people are called carriers. Carriers can still infect others with the strep throat bacteria.
What are the symptoms of strep throat?
The symptoms of strep throat usually start suddenly and may include:
-
A sore throat that hurts when you swallow
-
Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
-
Tiny red spots on the roof of your mouth
-
Swollen and tender lymph nodes in your neck
-
Fever
-
Headache
-
Chills
-
Nausea and vomiting, especially in young children
-
Body aches
-
Rash
One symptom that strep throat usually does not cause is a cough. If you have a cough and other cold symptoms, you probably have a viral infection, not strep throat.
How is strep throat diagnosed?
To diagnose strep throat, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine your throat. Your doctor may also do one or more of the following tests:
-
Rapid antigen test: This is a quick test that can detect the presence of GAS bacteria in a throat swab sample. The results are usually available within minutes.
-
Throat culture: This is a test that involves sending a throat swab sample to a laboratory, where it is grown and checked for GAS bacteria. The results may take a few days to come back.
-
Blood test: This is a test that measures the level of antibodies in your blood that fight against GAS bacteria. A high level of antibodies may indicate a recent or current strep infection.
How is strep throat treated?
It is common to use antibiotics to treat strep throat, which are medicines that kill bacteria. Antibiotics can help you feel better faster, prevent the spread of infection, and reduce complications. It is important to start taking antibiotics as soon as possible after you are diagnosed with strep throat. Even if you feel better before the end of the antibiotic course, you should finish it completely. Some bacteria can survive and cause another infection if antibiotics are stopped too soon.
In addition to antibiotics, you can also take some steps to relieve your symptoms and speed up your recovery, such as:
-
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and soothe your throat
-
Gargle with warm salt water to reduce inflammation and pain
-
Suck on lozenges, hard candies, or ice chips to moisten your throat and ease discomfort
-
Use a humidifier or a vaporizer to add moisture to the air and help you breathe easier
-
Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to lower your fever and reduce your pain. Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers, as it may cause a rare but serious condition called Reye’s syndrome.
-
Rest as much as possible and avoid strenuous activities
How can you prevent strep throat?
Keeping in touch with people who have strep throat is the best way to prevent it. You should stay home from school, work, or other activities until you have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours and no longer have a fever if you have strep throat. You should also practice good hygiene, such as:
-
Washing your hands often with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
-
Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze, and throwing away the tissue after use
-
Not sharing food, drinks, utensils, or personal items with others
-
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, keyboards, and phones
You can also boost your immune system by eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and managing your stress levels.
You can protect yourself and your loved ones from this unpleasant condition by knowing the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of strep throat. It is important to see your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect that you have strep throat.
