| Strep throat (usually a more severe form of sore | | | | eating utensils and dishes and to avoid sharing food or |
| throat) is a very common disease, afflicting thousands | | | | drinks with your child and other members of the family. |
| of people during flu seasons. Although strep throat can | | | | Strep throat usually requires paying a visit to the |
| be developed by anyone, at any time, the disease is | | | | doctor's office. While home remedies may provide |
| most often seen in children, who tend to catch the | | | | temporary relief for the symptoms of strep throat, the |
| disease in winter or spring. According to statistics, strep | | | | infection can only be overcome with proper |
| throat has the highest incidence in children and | | | | medications. If the doctor confirms the presence of |
| teenagers with ages between 5 and 15. Strep throat | | | | bacterial infection in the throat (by taking a sample of |
| refers to throat infection with bacteria called | | | | mucus from the throat and analyzing it in the |
| Streptococcus pyogenes. The disease is generally | | | | laboratory) he will prescribe a course of antibiotics to |
| manifested by reddish aspect of the throat, intense | | | | deal with the infection. Common antibiotics used in the |
| throat pain and discomfort, difficult swallowing, | | | | treatment of strep throat are penicillin V, erythromycin |
| headache, fever, cold chills, pronounced fatigue and | | | | and clarithromycin. |
| nausea. Although most cases of strep throat don't | | | | Although most symptoms of strep throat will begin to |
| involve serious complications, sometimes the disease | | | | ameliorate within the first few days of treatment, it is |
| can lead to coronary damage, kidney affections or | | | | very important to complete the course of prescribed |
| rheumatic fever. | | | | medications in order to fully eradicate the infection and |
| Most of the time, strep throat is acquired by entering in | | | | to stop it from recurring. Strep throat doesn't require |
| contact with persons infected with the causative | | | | bed confinement, and patients are allowed to carry on |
| bacteria. The bacteria responsible for causing strep | | | | with their regular activities over the entire duration of |
| throat are highly contagious and they can be easily | | | | the treatment. After 2 or 3 days of treatment the |
| contracted by air, saliva or nasal secretions. Proper | | | | disease loses its contagious character and patients |
| hygiene can substantially reduce the risks of infection | | | | can interact with other persons without the risk of |
| with Streptococcus pyogenes and thus you should | | | | transmitting the infection. However, it is still advisable to |
| instruct your child to frequently wash his / her hands | | | | maintain proper hygiene and take other precautions |
| and avoid interacting with contaminated individuals | | | | until the disease is fully overcome in order to prevent |
| during epidemics. In case you have become afflicted | | | | contaminating other persons with the bacteria. |
| by strep throat, it is very important to properly wash | | | | |