Strep Throat, also known as Streptococcal Pharyngitis, is one of the most common bacterial infections that affect people of all ages. The streptococcal bacteria irritate the throat and its surrounding, including the tonsils, pharynx, esophagus or food pipe and the larynx which form the top opening of the wind pipe. Inflammation in any one of these can cause sore throat or strep throat.
Causes of Strep Throat
Strep throat is an infection that mainly affects children of ages five to fifteen, though it can affect people of any age. Children below the age of three do get strep throat infections but these don't cause inflammation in their throats. Strep throat is commonly experienced during early spring, late fall and winter. The bacteria spread very easily by direct contact through nasal secretions, and saliva.
The common causes of sore throat are viruses or bacteria, and the bacterium that causes strep throat is a member of the streptococcus family and is known as Streptococcus Pyogenes. It belongs to the strain group A. When an infection is caused, sore throat, stomach ache, nausea, fever, chills and headache commonly appear. It will take about two to five days for the bacteria to incubate after which the affected persons will show signs of sore throat and other symptoms.
Symptoms of Strep Throat
There are many symptoms that you need to keep an eye out for, and since this is a common disease, the symptoms will be generic as well.
- Red throat
- Sore throat
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Sudden onset of fever
- Inflamed, tender lymph nodes in neck region
- Malaise and uneasiness
- Loss of appetite
- Rashes
- Nausea
- White patches on throat and tonsils
The following are the additional symptoms that are associated with the disease:
- Neck pain
- Nasal discharge
- Congestion in nasal passages
- Muscle pain
- Tongue problems
- Stiffness in joints
- Weird abnormal taste in the mouth
- Headache
The symptoms usually begin to appear within a few days of infection, and the throat appears swollen and red with white patches or spots that appear at the back of the throat. Pus is also formed during this time. The absence of cough is the most significant symptom that defines strep throat.
The rash associated with strep throat infection is caused due to the release of toxins from the virus and this is called scarlet fever. It begins to appear around the face and neck, slowly spreading to the lower areas of the body. The rash appears twelve to twenty four hours after the fever appears and can last for many days.
Diagnosis of Strep Throat
- Throat Culture: The doctor does a physical examination of the affected person and ensures that a throat culture is taken. For this a cotton swab is used and the sample is then sent for testing to the laboratory for evaluation. The bacteria are identified and treatment is given. Throat culture is done only when the symptoms of strep throat are present, otherwise the bacteria will not show up in tests.
- Rapid Strep Test: The Rapid Strep test also known as the Rapid Antigen Detection Test (RADT) can provide results in minutes. A swab is used to remove samples from the back of throat and the doctor uses a RADT kit for testing. Results are instant but less precise than those from the throat culture test.
- Blood Test: Blood is taken from the affected person and sent for testing, where measurement of antibodies is carried out. It is called Anti-streptolysin O or ASO titer. This is not an accurate test as antibodies will not be present if antibiotics have been taken.
Treatment Measures for Strep Throat
Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics for the treatment of strep throat but these days antibiotics are not recommended because of their declining effectiveness. Warm salt water is recommended for gargling and this should be done three to four times a day. Penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics can effectively get rid of the streptococcus virus.
Both oral penicillin V and penicillin G injections are used in treatment. The only way to prevent the infection is to wash your hands regularly and to cover your nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing.
This can help you avoid Strep Throat, a disease that is curable even otherwise, provided you diagnose it early and obtain help from a doctor.
