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By: by Amino Science
You know the feeling: that telltale tickle in the back of your throat that turns into a scratchy sensation and finally a raw pain that keeps you up at night. Well, the good news is that not all sore throats are cause for concern. Many are simply the result of allergies, the common cold, environmental irritants, or viral infections. However, sometimes a sore throat may be the result of a more serious illness known as strep throat. So if you’re wondering, "Is my sore throat strep?" read on to discover the common symptoms of strep throat and what you can do to treat the infection and ease your pain and discomfort.
Streptococcal pharyngitis, commonly known as strep throat, is an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by a specific type of bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes—also known as group A Streptococcus, or group A strep.
These highly contagious strep bacteria live in the nose and throat, but not everyone who carries them may show symptoms of illness. Even so, if an infected person coughs or sneezes, the bacteria carried in the resulting water droplets can easily be spread to another person. Likewise, the bacteria can be spread by eating or drinking after an infected person or by touching their personal items and then touching the nose, mouth, or eyes.
Anyone can get strep throat, but some groups are more prone to the infection than others. For one thing, this throat infection is far more common in children than adults, with most cases affecting children aged 5 to 15. In addition, most adults who contract the illness are either parents of young children or otherwise in close contact with them, such as elementary school teachers and day care workers.
Although strep throat isn’t generally dangerous, it can lead to serious complications, including:
If you’re wondering whether you have an ordinary sore throat or strep throat, you should know that the two share a few similarities, like throat pain and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, but the symptoms of strep throat are more severe and aren’t accompanied by common cold symptoms. For instance, the symptoms common to a basic sore throat include:
By contrast, common strep throat symptoms may include:
If you or your child is experiencing symptoms you think may be due to strep, you should see your health care provider. After speaking with you about your symptoms and performing a physical exam, one or both of the following tests will probably be performed.
If strep throat is found to be the cause of you or your child’s sore throat, you’ll most likely be prescribed antibiotics. If taken within 48 hours of illness onset, antibiotics can reduce the duration and severity of symptoms and prevent the bacteria from causing complications and spreading to others.
After receiving your prescription, it may take a while to start feeling better, but after 24 hours on antibiotics and no more signs of fever, it’s safe for you or your child to return to work or school. However, you should still be sure to take the full course of antibiotics so no strep bacteria remain in your system, which could lead to serious complications or recurrent infections.
Anyone who’s had strep throat knows it can be a painful experience, and antibiotic treatment doesn’t work overnight, so you may also want to consider some home remedies for strep throat to help you start feeling better faster. For example, over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like Advil can help reduce both throat pain and fever.
Additional home remedies that can provide symptom relief include:
With appropriate treatment, people suffering from strep throat should start feeling better within a day or two. However, if you experience no improvement after 48 hours or your symptoms begin to worsen, don’t hesitate to speak with your health care provider right away.
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