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Cold and Flu Remedies
'Tis the Season for StrepIs It Strep Throat?When your child’s throat is sore, there’s always the question: is this a virus or a more serious strep (streptococcus bacteria) infection? “The symptoms can be similar at first,” says Michael Kim, M.D., ear/nose/throat specialist at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “But a strep infection quickly gets more severe and lasts longer.” It’s important to be able to tell the difference: unlike viruses, bacteria need prompt treatment with antibiotics.If it’s strep, your child’s throat will be very sore and he may have fever or chills. Swallowing will be difficult and painful; tonsils are enlarged and inflamed, sometimes with white or red spots. “A throat culture is the only sure way to diagnose streptococcus,” Kim says. Using a swab, the doctor takes a mucus sample and sends it to a lab for testing. “It takes several days, but we usually start treatment right away if the symptoms are present,” he says. A newer “quick strep” test yields faster results, but it’s expensive and less accurate. The most common antibiotics for strep are penicillin or amoxicillin. If the strep is a resistant type, the doctor will prescribe something stronger. “The preferred treatment is 10 full days,” Kim says, “to keep the infection from recurring.” If left untreated, strep throat can develop into rheumatic fever, abscessed tonsils or kidney infection. You can’t really prevent strep, since it’s airborne. But you can reduce the risk by keeping your child away from people with colds or flu and having him wash his hands often. Replace a sick child’s toothbrush, and don’t share bathroom glasses. Strep infections most commonly affect 5- and 6-year olds, though they can occur into the early teens. Adults rarely get strep throat. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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