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Understanding Strep Throat Infection and How to Treat It

Author: Ryan Thomas
by Ryan Thomas
Posted: Oct 03, 2014

Your tonsils and throat could be infected by the streptococcus bacteria. This results into Strep Throat- a bacterial infection. The infection causes irritation and inflammations in the throat thus severe and sudden sores.

There are 2 categories of the Streptococcal bacteria:

-alpha-haemolytic: has two groups: streptococcus pneumoniae and Viridans Streptococci

-beta-haemolytic: is made of Group A and Group B Streptococci

Note: strep throat, also known as strep, could affect anyone but very common in children between 5 and 15 years. The infection can be spread through coughing and sneezing.

Common signs and symptoms

The symptoms may range from mild to serious with varying signs from one person to another. Mild symptoms include sore throat while serious symptoms include swallowing difficulties and fever among others.

Strep throat infection comes with the following signs and symptoms:

  • Chills
  • Sore throat
  • Sudden fever
  • Headache
  • Problems swallowing
  • Neck lymph nodes swelling
  • Appetite loss
Note: symptoms of the infection are experienced within 5 days once you are exposed to the streptococcus bacteria. However, not all swollen lymph nodes or sore throats are caused by the strep infection- your doctor should check for any other reasons.

How to diagnose Strep Throat

An effective diagnosis is necessary to establish the seriousness of the infection. This helps to get a reliable treatment.

Ensure that your prescriber examines any inflammation and swollen lymph nodes in the neck as well as any persistent sore throat. Rapid tests are reliable to check for the infection. Quality testing ensures the symptoms experienced are well established.

Prevention and treatment

Note: minimize contact with other people in case you are infected with the bacteria unless you are started for antibiotics in 48 hours. The streptococcus bacteria can live on surfaces for 48 hours. It is advisable that you throw away any pacifiers or toothbrushes - these measures can help to curb re-infections.

You require prescriber's directions for effective treatment doses and instructions. Treatment methods include:

  • At Home care- you can begin on a number of home-care treatments that could help to deal with strep. The following will help in improving the symptoms:
-using pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen

-sucking on throat lozenges

-drinking warm liquids such as hot tea and lemon water

-turning on a humidifier that is cool-mist

-numb the throat using cold liquids

  • Antibiotics- your doctor will prescribe you to start taking antibiotics for the treatment of this infection. The drugs help in controlling the spread of the bacterial infections. Common types of antibiotics to be used include:
-amoxicillin

-penicillin

Ensure you take the medication as instructed by the doctor for an effective treatment course with reliable results. Correct use of the antibiotics will help the strep throat symptoms improve within a week. However, the following complications could result from improper use of the medication:

  • Mastoiditis
  • Peritonsillar abscess
  • Ear infections
  • Sinusitis
  • Scarlet fever
  • Kidney inflammation; or
  • Guttate psoriasis
  • Rheumatic fever that can result into inflamed joints, rashes or damaged heart valves.

With the initial instructions from the doctor, you can now buy Azithromycin antibiotics for Strep Throat medication from Kiwi Drug online doctor!

About the Author

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Author: Ryan Thomas

Ryan Thomas

Member since: Feb 05, 2014
Published articles: 97

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