Strep throat is a bacterial infection in the throat and the tonsils. The throat gets irritated and inflamed, causing a sudden, severe sore throat.
Strep throat is a bacterial throat infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. Only a small portion of sore throats are the result of strep throat.
It’s important to identify strep throat for a number of reasons. If untreated, strep throat can sometimes cause complications such as kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can lead to painful and inflamed joints, a rash and even damage to heart valves.
Strep throat is most common between the ages of 5 and 15, but it affects people of all ages. If you or your child has signs or symptoms of strep throat, see your doctor for prompt treatment.
The most common symptoms of strep throat are:
♦ A sudden, severe sore throat.
♦ Pain when you swallow.
♦ Fever over 101°F (38.3°C).
♦ Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes.
♦ White or yellow spots on the back of a bright red throat.
In general, signs and symptoms of strep throat include:
♦ Throat pain
♦ Difficulty swallowing
♦ Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
♦ Tiny red spots on the soft or hard palate — the area at the back of the roof of the mouth
♦ Swollen, tender lymph glands (nodes) in your neck
♦ Fever
♦ Headache
♦ Rash
♦ Stomachache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children
♦ Fatigue
It’s possible for you or your child to have many of these signs and symptoms, but not have strep throat. The cause of these signs and symptoms could be a viral infection or some other kind of illness. That’s why your doctor generally tests specifically for strep throat.
It’s also possible to have the bacteria that can cause strep in your throat without having a sore throat. Some people are carriers of strep, which means they can pass the bacteria on to others, but the bacteria are not currently making them sick.
How the strep infection is spread?
Strep throat can be passed from person to person. When a person infected with strep throat breathes, coughs, or sneezes, tiny droplets containing the strep bacteria are released into the air and are breathed in by other people.
What causes it?
Strep throat is caused by streptococcal (strep) bacteria, most often by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABS). Other types of strep that can sometimes infect the throat are groups C and G strep bacteria.
A strep infection causes the throat (pharynx) and the tonsils or adenoids to become irritated, inflamed, and painful.
Sore throats are most commonly caused by viral infections or other irritants such as smoke, allergies, dry air, or a throat injury, and not by a strep infection.
Can I prevent strep throat?
To avoid getting strep throat, it is a good idea to avoid contact with anyone who has a strep infection.
Wash your hands often when you are around people with colds or viral or bacterial illnesses. Do not share toothbrushes or eating and drinking utensils.
♦ Bacteria are almost always transmitted by contact with tiny droplets from an infected person. Strep throat is passed from one person to another by contact with the tiny droplets of an infected person’s cough, sneeze, or breath.
♦ Bacteria can also live for a short time on doorknobs, water faucets, and other objects. If you touch an infected object and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you can become infected with the bacteria or virus.
♦ Bacteria can also be carried on food.
Keep up your body’s resistance to infection with a good diet, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise. Managing stress can also strengthen your body’s ability to fight off illness, such as strep throat.
Read more about Streptococcal Infection and Strep Rash
This post was written by: Best Online M.D.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER
(And get your daily dose of Beauty and Wellness tips straight to your inbox)
check out the post right here
Sep 16. 2014
Do you suffer from KIDNEY DISEASE? Do you know that, according to latest researches, DIALYSIS IS NOT NECESSARY? A friend of mine got off dialysis (stage 5 CKD) and healed his kidney. Take a look: