The strep bacteria is one of the most common causes of a store throat. In kids, the strep bacteria, called streptococci, causes almost 1/3 of all sore throats. The symptoms of having strep throat include stomach pain and fever, or swollen tonsils, in addition to a severely sore throat. To treat strep throat, a trip to the doctor is almost always necessary. That’s because antibiotic treatments must be used in order to stop the spread of the bacteria. Here are seven important facts about strep throat to keep in mind the next time you encounter it.
1. It Takes a Day
People with strep throat are generally asked to quarantine themselves for 24 hours after the condition has been diagnosed. This is because the bacteria can still be spread even though an antibiotic regimen has been started. After a full day on antibiotics, however, people can begin getting back to their regular lifestyle once again without worrying about infecting others.
2. There’s More Than One
There are many different types of streptococci infections that can cause a sore throat. What we generally call strep throat is what is determined to be group a streptococci. Group a strep throat is often found on the surface of the skin and inside the throat. It’s the most common version of a strep throat. Group B strep tends to live in the digestive tract. It usually affects newborns more than any other demographic. A third group, called Group C strep, is more rare and it caused a sore throat when the streptococci bacteria are transmitted from animals.
3. It Needs To Be Treated
If a strep throat is left untreated, the bacteria that causes the illness spread to other organs within the body. If the strep bacteria gets into the bloodstream, for example, it might cause an infection of the inner lining of the heart. It can also affect any organ. Once it reaches this advanced stage, it can be very difficult to treat. That is why it is so important to have any sore throat that lingers inspected by a doctor.
4. Strep Can Be Invasive
Group a strep can be particularly dangerous if it is allowed to penetrate deeper inside the human body. These invasive infections can cause pneumonia, sepsis, and even meningitis. These advanced infections pose a very serious threat, but a simple swab test of the affected tissues and saliva is all it takes in its early stages to determine if the streptococci bacteria are present.
5. It Comes With the Flu
As with many other diseases, strep throat is more prevalent in the late fall and early spring months than any other time throughout the year. For children who attend large schools, strep throat may also be more prevalent and widespread year. Strep throat can also affect adults, accounting for up to 10% of the total cases that are diagnosed each year.
6. It’s Not Always Strep
Even when there is a persistent sore throat going on, a virus is the more common cause of the issue that is going on. Because of the dangers of persistent strep infections, however, any long-term sore throat should be inspected and evaluated by a medical professional.