Author:
Randy Alexander
Date Of Creation:
23 April 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Having a sore throat doesn't mean having strep throat.In fact, most sore throats are caused by viruses and go away on their own. Strep throat, on the other hand, is a bacterial disease that requires treatment with antibiotics. Learning to recognize the symptoms of strep throat will help you come up with the best medical treatment.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Symptom Recognition
Watch out for sore throats. Strep throat is an infectious disease caused by streptococcal bacteria. The symptom of the disease is a sore throat, but this is not the only symptom.
- You may also experience pain or difficulty swallowing.
Open your mouth and examine your throat. In addition to a severe sore throat that begins quickly, the tonsils will become swollen and red, which may have white spots or pus. In addition, small red spots may appear on the back of the palate.
Feel the neck area. Infection causes the lymph glands in the neck to swell. When you feel around your neck, you should feel it swollen and painful to the touch. Pay special attention to the glands anterior to the neck, under the jawbone on either side of the airway.
Pay attention to your breathing. Strep throat and other throat infections can cause bad breath. Infected ammonia will begin to secrete dead white blood cells, creating a characteristic protein-like odor.
Check temperature. Fever and chills are the two more distinctive symptoms of strep throat. The fever is usually highest on day two because the body is now reacting.
- Normal body temperature is 37 ° C. Fluctuations higher than 0.5-1 degrees Celsius are a sign that you have the disease.
- Call a healthcare professional right away if the fever goes higher than 38 ° C or the fever lasts longer than 48 hours.
Recognize other flu-like symptoms. Whenever your immune system reacts strongly to an infection, you will have symptoms similar to the flu. Symptoms include:
- A rash, usually on the chest, and feels rough to the touch
- Headache
- Tired
- Abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting (especially in young children)
Go to the doctor. Ultimately, your doctor will diagnose if you have strep throat or something else. Your body will begin to get rid of most of the viruses that cause the same symptoms within 1-2 days (not completely but it will make a difference). If your symptoms persist for more than 48 hours, you should see your doctor. advertisement
Part 2 of 3: Treatment of strep throat
Use an over-the-counter pain reliever. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help relieve pain and reduce fever. Take these with food (if possible) and do not exceed the recommended daily dose by the manufacturer.
- Avoid taking aspirin to relieve the symptoms of strep throat in children and teenagers because it poses a risk of Reye's syndrome - which can cause swelling in the liver and brain and can be life-threatening.
Gargle with salt water. Salt water can help relieve the pain associated with strep throat. Mix about 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a full cup of warm water. Take the salt water deep in your throat, tilt your head back, and rinse your mouth for 30 seconds. Do not drink the salt water after rinsing.
- Gargle as many times a day as needed.
- As with young children, make sure they understand that salt water is not swallowed.
Drink enough water. Many people can become dehydrated with strep throat because pain when swallowing prevents them from drinking. Throat lubrication is actually very helpful in reducing pain from swallowing. So, although it may be a bit uncomfortable at first, you should still drink plenty of water.
- Some people will find that drinking warm water has a better calming effect than cold water. You can try a warm (not too hot) tea with honey or lemon.
Sleep. Sleep is the best way to help your immune system fight infections. You can take time off from work or school to stay at home to rest.
- Strep throat is contagious, so you should stay home to avoid spreading the infection to others.
Use a humidifier. A dry throat at night can cause a sore throat in the morning. A humidifier adds humidity to the air while you sleep (or when you're resting at home), helping to relieve the pain of strep throat.
- You should clean your humidifier every day, as this is an ideal environment for bacteria and mold.
Use throat lozenges or sprays. Throat lozenges or sprays will help relieve sore throat symptoms and pain from swallowing. These products create a coating on the throat, reducing irritation or numbness in the throat, thereby reducing symptoms. Use according to instructions.
- Do not give lozenges to children under 4 years old to avoid choking.
Choose foods that are easy to swallow. Dry, hard food can scratch and irritate your throat, causing pain when swallowing. You can eat soups, apple sauce, yogurt, and mashed potatoes to make them easier to swallow.
- Also, avoid hot spicy foods until symptoms subside.
Avoid throat irritants. Throat irritants - especially smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke - can cause additional sore throats. Other triggers to avoid when you have strep throat are the scent of paint and the scent of cleaning products.
See a doctor if symptoms persist because strep throat may have spread, lead to infection in other parts or complications in the heart, kidneys or joints. Your doctor will test your throat for infection to diagnose or test a sample of bacteria in the lab. If the result is positive, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for you.
Take antibiotics as directed. Your doctor will usually prescribe an antibiotic for 10 days (more or less depending on the antibiotic). Common antibiotics to treat strep throat include penicillin or amoxicillin. In case you are allergic to these drugs, your doctor will prescribe Cephalexin or Azithromycin. Note when taking antibiotics:
- Take as directed until the medicine is gone. Skipping doses or stopping taking them when you feel better can increase the risk of disease recurrence and create opportunities for resistant bacteria.
- See your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to the antibiotic, symptoms include hives, vomiting, swelling or difficulty breathing, or if symptoms don't improve within 48 hours of taking antibiotics.
- Do not return to work or return to school for at least 24 hours. You can still infect others unless you have taken antibiotics for at least 1 day.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing the Spread of strep throat
Wash your hands often. Like most other infections, strep throat can be prevented by washing your hands often. This step is especially important when you are already sick and want to avoid infecting others.
Cover your cough or sneeze. Coughing or sneezing can cause the bacteria to fly away and spread illness to everyone around them. Therefore, it is best to find a way to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Cover your mouth with your arms instead of your hands to reduce the spread of germs. However, if you have to use your hands, wash them thoroughly immediately after you cough or sneeze.
Avoid sharing personal items. Sharing bowls, cups, drinking glasses, or any other object that comes in close contact with your mouth increases your risk of spreading strep throat to others. Therefore, you should avoid sharing these items and wash them with warm, soapy water to kill bacteria.
- After 2 days of taking antibiotics, you should remove the old toothbrush and buy a new one to avoid getting sick again.
- You can use a dishwasher to help kill bacteria on your dishes.
Warning
- Antibiotics can kill healthy gut bacteria, so it's important to eat a probiotic supplement like yogurt when taking antibiotics.
- Always carefully read the directions for use of all medicines.
- Do not self-diagnose. See your doctor for testing if you suspect that you have strep throat.
- A sore throat that makes swallowing difficult also requires medical attention.
- Call your doctor right away if a fever above 38 degrees C accompanied by a sore throat.
