Is It Strep Throat? That raw, scratchy feeling in the back of the throat; the cause may be as simple as dry winter air, seasonal allergies, or a developing cold. But sometimes the culprit is strep, a bacterial infection that can be dangerous if untreated. Only your health care provider can make a diagnosis, but there are signs that may provide clues that you have strep rather than a common sore throat.
Are There Unusual Spots? Say "Ahhh." Looking inside the throat can reveal important clues about what's causing the pain. Strep often produces white patches in the throat and on the tonsils, as well as red, swollen tonsils. Puss may also be seen in the back of the throat.
Are There Cold Symptoms? Coughing and postnasal drip can make your throat feel bad, but these symptoms are less likely to occur with strep. When congestion, runny nose, and other cold symptoms accompany a sore throat, a cold virus is usually to blame.
How High Is the Fever? A sore throat with a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit raises the likelihood of strep. However, strep can be present even with little or no fever.
Are the Lymph Nodes Swollen? Strep throat may cause the lymph nodes in the neck to become swollen and tender. The lymph nodes are responsible for trapping and destroying germs, which causes them swell as they carry out their job
How Much Does It Hurt? Strep throat tends to be more severe and persistent than a typical sore throat -- the pain may be so bad, it's hard to swallow. In some cases, strep may cause nausea, a lack of appetite, or pain in the head and abdomen.
Is There a Rash? A less common sign of strep infection is a rash that appears on the neck and chest, eventually spreading to the rest of the body. When this rough, sandpaper-like rash develops, the infection is known as scarlet fever. Antibiotic treatment can help protect against complications of strep infection.
Strep Is a Bacterial Infection The reason it's so important to distinguish between strep and a common sore throat is that strep is caused by a bacterial infection -- Group A Streptococcus -- and a simple sore throat is usually caused by a virus. Antibiotic treatment may lessen symptoms and duration of the illness. It will also decrease the chance for complications. Without antibiotics, a strep infection may lead to complications that affect the heart or other organs. Though rare, this can cause serious illness.
Rapid Strep Test To decide whether a sore throat is caused by strep or a cold virus, your health care provider may use a rapid strep test. The results are ready in 5 to 10 minutes, but the test doesn't pick up all cases of strep. If the results are negative, your doctor may send a throat culture to the lab. This takes a couple days to get results.
Antibiotics for Strep If you're diagnosed with strep, your doctor may prescribe 10 days of antibiotics or give you an antibiotic shot. You'll probably feel better in a day or two, but it's vital to take the entire course of antibiotics -- otherwise some of the bacteria may survive. Remember, your strep can still be contagious until 24 hours after starting antibiotics, so wash your hands often, and don't share utensils. And be sure to throw away your toothbrush after you've had strep.
Additional helpful tips
- Since fever and painful swallowing can lead to dehydration, it's important to increase your intake of fluids. Water and ginger ale are good choices. Avoid citrus drinks which can irritate an inflamed throat.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers, like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen, can temporarily dull the pain of a sore throat. (Do not give aspirin to children and teenagers because of the risk of the rare but potentially fatal Reye's syndrome.)
- You can also soothe a painful sore throat with a numbing spray or lozenge. Sucking on ice chips can also bring some relief.
- If you have a cold -- and fluid draining from your nose is what's irritating your throat -- you might want to try a decongestant nasal spray or oral decongestant, which can dry up postnasal drip and give your throat some relief.
Source: http://www.webmd.com Anatomy of a Sore Throat
