Strep throat represents a bacterial infection of the throat generated by the streptococcus pyogenes. Its most common symptoms are: nausea, difficulty to swallow, fatigue, fever, a red – colored throat, cold chills, headache, pain and discomfort of the throat. It is not a severe disease, but some of its complications such as rheumatic fever, kidney problems or coronary damage may be.
It may affect anyone, especially in winter, late fall, in early spring, but the most exposed to it are children between the ages of 5 and 15. This is the larges segment of population with strep throat.
This disease is extremely contagious and it usually affects your child when he or she is in direct contact with someone that has it or that carries the bacteria. It may be transmitted through nasal secretions, saliva or through air. In order to partly prevent the infection with streptococcus pyogenes you should explain to your child how important it is for him/her to wash hands frequently and to stay away from persons that have strep throat. The dishes or glasses used by a person affected by this condition shouldn't be shared with the healthy family members in order to avoid their contamination.
The infection can be successfully defeated by the proper treatment. it is important for you or your child to take only antibiotics that have been prescribed by the doctor. If the pharyngeal exudate detects strep throat, your health care professional will prescribe you penicillin V, clarithromycin and erythromycin in order to cure it immediately.
Even if your symptoms improve or even disappear, don't interrupt the antibiotics. You need to follow the entire course of the prescribed treatment. Strep throat is not a disease that may stop you from your daily activities. It will be safe for you to be in contact with people after 2 or 3 days of antibiotics, when you are no longer contagious. Hygiene should be kept at high standards, even if you are no longer contagious, in order to protect you and the people around you.
By: Rodney Kadel -