Strep Throat (cont.)
How common is strep throat?
Group A streptococcus is the most common cause of bacterial throat infection.
Approximately 15 to 30 percent of tonsillopharyngitis in children between 5 to
15 years of age is caused by group A strep.
How can someone catch strep throat?
The most common way to catch strep throat is by contact with an infected
person. A person with an active infection of streptococcus may be contagious by
contact. This is the most frequent mode of transmission and frequently occurs in
families or in schools.
What are the symptoms of strep throat?
Symptoms of strep throat may vary quite a bit depending on the patient's age.
- Infants primarily experience a thick "colorful" (yellow or green) drainage
from the nose and possibly a low-grade fever, with fussiness, irritability, and
a decrease in appetite.
- Children aged one to three ("toddlers") may complain of a sore throat, trouble
swallowing, poor appetite, crankiness, and
swollen glands (lymph nodes) beneath
the jaws.
- Older children and adolescents generally look and feel awful with strep
throat. They can have high fevers, very painful throats, often severe difficulty
swallowing, and pus, which can sometimes be seen covering the tonsils.
- Adults with strep throat may have milder symptoms, and in some cases the
illness may be undetected. Symptoms vary; adults may also have severe pain and
trouble swallowing.
When should I be concerned about a possible strep throat?
Parents should be concerned about a sore throat that does not improve after a
sip of water after arising from sleep, or one that is accompanied by a
headache,
high fever, stomachache, vomiting, or severe tiredness. The presence of a red,
somewhat rough-to-the-touch rash is also a concern, as strep infection along
with a rash is known as scarlet fever (but this is no more dangerous than strep
throat without a rash).
An urgent call to the doctor's office or emergency room visit is appropriate
if the child has extreme difficulty swallowing that causes drooling, or the
child is having difficulty breathing.
Next: How is strep throat detected by the doctor? »
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