Bacterial Strep Throat

It is a highly infectious bacterial infection that is usually transmitted through small droplets by sneezing or coughing and becomes airborne that spreads from one person to another person easily.

A main bacterial throat infection is a Strep throat infection that causes pain and inflammation in the throat. This typical condition is caused by a large group of bacterial species Streptococcus.

Strep throat can occur in people of all ages and children between 5-15 years old. It is highly common in children and teenagers. A strep throat infection can be spread through coughing, sneezing, eating with the same utensils, and getting in close contact with a person having strep throat infection. Thus, there is a high chance of spreading infection from one person to another person.

Is strep throat infection contagious?

It is highly contagious in children between 5-15 years as they go to daycare services and schools where the spread is direct and easy. However, it is seen to be rare in infants or children below the age of 3 years.

What are the symptoms of strep throat infection?

Strep throat can occur in mild to severe forms that may vary from person to person. The infection usually begins to show symptoms within five days of getting in contact with Streptococcus bacteria.

These symptoms may include:

• Sore throat and pain
• High body temperature of 101 degree Fahrenheit or more
• Difficulty in swallowing drinks or food
• Swelling, red throat with white pigments
• Headache
• Night chills
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• There is also the possibility of the occurrence of strep throat infection without a fever.
• Some people also experience some severe symptoms that include
• Stomach ache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Vomiting

A rash associated with strep bacteria that may be called scarlet fever or scarlatina. The scarlet fever can cause rash which appear way before the other symptoms starts to show up. The rash usually occur within 7 days or after the infection. However, rash can recover in about a week but you may feel peeling of skin in those area where bacteria have infested. You may experience this feeling for several weeks even after the recovery of infection.

Strep throat may cause some symptoms that resembles the signs of viral infection. So that might confuse strep throat with viral infection. So, if the symptoms include any of the enlisted signs, there is a chance that you have infected with some other illness.

• Cough
• Runny nose
• Harsh voice
• Conjunctivitis or stye in eye

If you are prescribed antibiotics for presumed strep throat when you actually have mono, that might cause rash as side-effects from Amoxicillin antibiotics.

For accurate diagnosis and treatment, one must make an appointment and consult doctor for strep test.

What are the causes of getting strep throat infection?

It is mainly caused by a bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes or group A bacteria Streptococcus. (GAS). It can easily spread by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as these act as an opening for the bacteria similar to the person with strep throat while coughing and sneezing.

It can also be caused by eating food and drinking with someone with an active infection of strep throat.

It can also be caused to a healthy person if he or she touches or getting in contact with an object contaminated with Group A strep bacteria GAS. The objects can be doorknob or faucet and touching eyes, nose or mouth with the same bare hands.

Kids below 1 year can also get the infection by putting the contaminated objects or toys in their mouth.

What are the risk factors associated with the strep throat infection?

Some influential factors can enhance your risk of getting strep throat infection. These factors are:

Close or physical contact with an infected person

Spending time in crowded places like schools, daycare facilities and military services

Age between 5-15

A school-going child

An adult who spends a lot of time in contact with children, being a teacher or medical professional.

Most adult get infected with strep throat under the age of 40.

Strep throat is caused by close contact with the infected person. It is in the risk factor of contamination. Therefore, of one person at a home is infected, there are risk chance of getting infection by each member

What happen if you are pregnant with strep throat?

If you feel you have caught strep throat infection during your pregnancy, consult your doctor immediately to get prescribed for best treatment.

You medical expert may prescribe antibiotics and will properly diagnose you with suitable medications. Let's understand in detail about how to treat strep throat if you are pregnant.

Strep throat is an infecyion that occur in throat region, caused by group A streptococcus which is not not similar as group B streptococcus that is mainly doing in the region around vagina or rectum.

There might be chance that group B streptococcus can passed on to your baby during delivery or labor. However, it is not the case with a strep throat infection.

Diagnosis

The doctor or health care provider will examine your child, ask about signs and symptoms, and test for strep.

There are 2 tests used to diagnose strep throat. Both use the same soft swab. The doctor or health care provider will brush 1 or 2 swabs or the back of the throat. Your child may chock a little.

A rapid strep test is a test that takes up to 30 minutes to generate results of a rapid strep test. You will stay until you get the results.

A throat culture - Sometimes only this test is done. A swab is sent to the lab for testing. It takes 1 to 2 days to get the results. The lab will notify your child's doctor or health care provider, who will then let you know the results.

A positive rapid strep test or positive throat culture means that your child has strep throat caused by harmful bacteria.

What is the treatment for Strep throat infection?

Treatment with Antibiotics

If your kid has caught strep throat infection, consult your doctor, they will provide antibiotics medicines immediately in the form of pills or injections.

Always keep in mind to give only prescribed medicines to your kid. All prescribed antibiotics should be taken even after they start to feel okay, hence don't stop the medication on your will, and maintain the course of medication.

Stopping medicines too early, consuming in excess, or missing the doses can cause resistance to antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance means that the bacteria or germs will be hard to kill.

These antibiotics can also give side effects of skin rashes or diarrhea within one or two days.

What are the things to do during a bacterial throat infection to help feel better?

Consuming lots of fluids or drinks like water, diluted fruits (apples or popsicles), juices, and Pedialyte may help during throat infection.

Consume soft textured fruits that are easy to swallow like mashed potatoes, pulses, hot cereals, or scrambled eggs, etc. These food items may not taste good and hurt to swallow but try to eat as they provide nutrition to the body.

What are the things to treat a sore throat?

For children above one year, drink warm fluids like warm water, herbal tea with honey, or apple juices to soothe the sore throat. Avoid adding honey to food for children below one-year-old.

For some kids, cold fluids or popsicles my help in soothing of throat.