Got a sore throat? Though aching and inflammation in the throat has many causes, like allergies and colds, it may turn out to be strep throat. This is a bacterial infection, common among children but able to affect anyone. Because it’s caused by a bacteria, there’s no vaccine cure. However, careful practice and knowing the symptoms can help slow it down and keep it contained.
Stop the Spread
Among children, strep throat causes 15-40% of all sore throats, and 5-15% between adults. It’s transmitted by skin contact with nasal mucus. Kids often wipe their noses on their hands, especially during cold weather where noses run more easily. If your kids might have strep, get them to wash their hands frequently and avoid touching their face. Also, don’t share eating utensils or cups with anyone who has a sore throat. Strep throat is very contagious, so it’s important to stop the spread early on.
Symptoms of Strep Throat
There are many things that cause sore throats out there. But the ones that set strep throat apart are:
- Fever
- Sore throat with white patches at the back
- Headache
- Chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Trouble swallowing
Still, sore throats from other causes (sinus infections or postnasal drip) can be easily mistaken for strep. So call your doctor if you have:
- A sore throat lasting longer than two days
- A sore throat with white patches
- A sandpaper-like pink skin rash accompanying your sore throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
Treatment
Due to being commonplace, some people may not feel the need to visit the doctor to treat strep. However, it’s important to treat strep throat with antibiotics rather than ignore it because in some cases it can turn to scarlet fever or other infections, including abscesses on the tonsils.
Your doctor will treat strep throat with antibiotics like amoxicillin and penicillin, most commonly. Be sure to finish your antibiotic course; some people stop taking treatment when they feel better. However, this can prompt a relapse and a return of symptoms–meaning another trip to the doctor in the near future.
At home, you can ease the symptoms of your strep throat by taking the following measures combined with antibiotics.
- Drink warm liquids like tea
- Drinks cold liquids to numb the pain
- Adding lemon to your drinks
- Using a humidifier
- Taking throat lozenges
- Gargling a mixture of 1 cup water with 1/2 tsp salt
If your symptoms don’t improve with these measures within 48 hours of taking an antibiotic, contact your doctor. You may need a different, more effective antibiotic or other treatment.