Strep throat, also known as streptococcal pharyngitis, is an infection of the tonsils and surrounding areas of the throat caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes.
Although it can be treated with antibiotics, streptococcal pharyngitis is the most common bacterial cause of sore throats in children and adolescents. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about this infection, including its symptoms, causes, and treatments, and for more details visit https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/strep-throat.html.
Strep throat can easily be spread. It’s contagious.
The strep germs mainly hang out in throat and nose. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, and talks, germs go in the air. Then they are breathed by others. These germs can even land on things & get picked by touching it. ·
Strep is simple to treat.
An untreated strep will harm your body. Suppose your body overreacts to bacteria, it will lead to disease named rheumatic fever. The rheumatic fever will cause swollen and painful joints, another specific kind of kidney damage, rash, and harm the heart.
Begin antibiotic as early as possible and prevent harm to your body.
People testing positive for strep and have no symptoms are named carriers.
Carriers do not take antibiotics. Suppose your kid gets sore throat & you know that they are strep carrier, your doctor can treat their illness for a virus.
Prevention
Many people with strep throat will spread this infection to others till they are on the antibiotics for 24 – 48 hours. They must stay home from the school, daycare, and work till they are on the antibiotics for one day at least.
Get new toothbrush after two or three days, but before completing your antibiotics. Or, the bacteria will live on your toothbrush & reinfect when antibiotics are done. Ensure to keep the family’s toothbrushes & utensils separate, till they are washed properly.
Suppose repeated cases of the strep still happen in your family, you must check and see if somebody is strep carrier. The carriers get strep in throats, however the bacteria don’t make them sick. At times, treating them will prevent others to get strep throat.
What are the Types of Strep?
The strep throat is generally caused by the group A streptococcal bacteria. And group A bacteria live in your throat and nose and can easily get transmitted to people. Another kind of strep bacteria is group B that affects rectum or vagina of the pregnant women. And groups C & G strep can be found among animals and transmitted to humans drinking raw (or unpasteurized) milk and are in contact with the infected animal.