What is strep throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat. This common condition is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria.

Strep throat can affect children and adults of all ages. But it’s especially common in children between the ages of 5 and 15. Sneezing, coughing, sharing food utensils, and other types of close contact with someone with a strep throat infection can spread strep from one person to another.

What does strep throat look like?

Strep throat symptoms

The severity of strep throat can vary from person to person. They typically develop within 5 days of exposure to strep bacteria.

Some people experience mild symptoms, like a sore throat. Other people have more severe symptoms, including fever and difficulty swallowing.

How do children get strep throat?

Direct contact: When someone comes into contact with an infected person’s saliva (spit), nose or sore on the skin.

Indirect contact: When germs in the nose and throat of an infected person spread through the air—as droplets from a cough or sneeze.

If your child has below mentioned signs or symptoms of strep throat, see your doctor for prompt testing and treatment.

• Throat pain that usually comes on quickly
• Painful swallowing/swollen tonsils
• Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white/yellow patches or streaks of pus
• Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)
• Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck
• Fever
• Headache
• Rash
• Nausea or vomiting, especially in younger children
• Body aches.

How to Help Your Child When They May Have Strep Throat

Call or visit Pediatrician

If your child has strep throat, your doctor will give you an antibiotic, a medicine that kills bacteria. To make sure the bacteria go away completely and don't spread to other parts of body.

Get an appointment with their pediatrician as soon as you can, so they can be tested for strep. Here at Perfect Tyagi Hospital, we put great effort in caring for a sick child. You child will be tested for strep by getting a sample via swab from the back of his or her throat.

Strep throat is a contagious infection that must be handled effectively as soon as possible.