Strep Throat Symptoms

Strep throat is the most common bacterial infection of the throat. However, most throat infections are due to viruses, in comparison only a small portions are strep throat. The culprit behind this ailment is bacteria called A Streptococcus, that usually lurks in the nose and throat. Strep throat is quite contagious and is spread through normal activities like sneezing, coughing, or shaking hands. It is most common in the late fall, winter, and early spring. Knowing and being able to identify strep throat symptoms in adults and children alike is very important, as it goes untreated, it can lead to kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever. Though it can affect people of all ages, strep throat is most common among people between the ages of 5 and 15.

Strep Throat Symptoms

It is fairly difficult to differentiate between a sore throat and strep throat. In fact, you or your child may exhibit many of the below listed signs and symptoms, and yet not have strep throat. Instead, you may be suffering from a virus, tonsillitis or other illnesses. The onset of strep is sudden, and usually the fever is highest on the second day. Symptoms include:

• Difficulty in swallowing
• Red and white patches in the throat
• Red and enlarged tonsils
• Tender or swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
• Headache
• Fever
• Lower stomach pain
• Loss of appetite and nausea
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
• Rash

Strep throat symptoms in toddlers and children usually start to develop three days after they are exposed. However, strep throat symptoms in babies and toddlers is less obvious than in older children. The onset of the illness is not as rapid or severe, and fever is usually low-grade (99 to 100°F). You can also expect the infant to be irritable. A clear discharge from their nose may be seen, sometimes along with a skin infection between the upper lip and the nostrils.

Strep Throat Treatment

If your strep throat test (throat culture or rapid strep test) reports come back positive, you may be treated by with oral antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin. Some other options are azithromycin, clarithromycin, clindamycin or a cephalosporin. Children are often given injections, as swallowing is done with a great deal of difficulty. While strep throat is known to get better on its own, antibiotics can hasten the recovery process, and prevent rare but serious complications. A person is likely to begin to feel better a day or two after treatment begins, but it is important to finish the entire course of medicine. If your child is healing better, he/she can return to school or child care 24 hours from the commencement of treatment, by which time the ailment is no longer contagious. For adults, in addition to the antibiotics, pain relievers may be prescribed.

While the medication will take care of the infections, there are some steps you can take at home for relief from the strep throat symptoms. But first and foremost, you must rest. You should also stay hydrated, and drink plenty of fluids. Surprisingly, cold fluids may soothe the throat, but stay away from spicy or acidic foods. Lemon or ginger tea with honey and soups work well for most of the people. Every doctor and mother will tell you to gargle several times a day with warm salt water. If you have a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier, please use it as it helps in keeping the mucous membranes in your throat moist, and thus lower irritation. Adults may suck on throat lozenges for relief, but these may present a hazard for toddlers.