All You Need to Know About Strep Throat

All You Need to Know About Strep Throat

Strep throat is an infection that involves the throat and tonsils. It is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria (also known as group A strep).

Highly contagious, strep throat is spread when droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze come into contact with another person. These droplets can be passed to others through the air, as well as through physical contact. For instance, by drinking from the same glass as someone who is infected, or touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching something that has droplets on it.

What is the first sign of strep throat?

If you have been exposed to strep throat, symptoms start between one to five days.

Symptoms of strep throat include the following:

• Sore throat
• Pain when swallowing
• Fever
• Swollen neck glands (lymph nodes)
• Headache and body aches
• Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting

People with strep can also sometimes develop a red rash all over their body, which may actually be a sign of “scarlet fever.” Interestingly, if your sore throat is accompanied by a cough as well, it actually means you are less likely to have strep.

Prevent the spread of bacteria by practicing the following:

• Covering your mouth whenever you cough or sneeze.
• Washing your hands after you wipe or blow your nose, cough, and sneeze.
• Washing your hands before preparing any meals.

When should you go to the doctor for a sore throat?

If you have a severe sore throat that lasts for several days, it is probably time to see a doctor. You should also see a doctor if your sore throat is accompanied by a fever that stays at 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or a temperature of 100.4 degrees F that lasts for more than three days.

It is important to understand that it is impossible to diagnose strep throat by visual inspection alone. Your doctor will need to do what is known as a rapid strep test, which involves taking a sample of your throat secretions by using a long cotton swab.

If your rapid strep test results come back positive, that means you have strep throat, and your doctor will then prescribe you a course of penicillin or another antibiotic to take.

How long does strep throat last?

The fever that comes with strep will usually stop one or two days after you begin taking your antibiotics course. Your sore throat symptoms will also subside within that same amount of time.

You are considered contagious for the first 24 hours after you start taking antibiotics, so stay home to avoid infecting others.

Can strep throat go away on its own?

If you have strep throat, you must treat it with antibiotics in order for it to go away.

Leaving a strep infection untreated can lead to very serious health problems, such as rheumatic fever, which damages your heart valves, as well as glomerulonephritis, a very dangerous kidney disease. These can potentially be life-threatening illnesses. Not treating strep throat can also lead to several different skin diseases.

Here are some steps you can take to relieve your strep symptoms (however, you will need to get on antibiotics before you can eliminate them entirely):

• Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and body aches, as needed.
• Gargle using saltwater.
• Use throat lozenges.
• Drink plenty of liquids.
• Use a humidifier.
• Rest as much as possible.

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