What is strep throat and how its spreadPosted by David Miller on February 12th, 2019 What is Strep throat? Streptococcal pharyngitis is an infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus group A and is very common among children and adolescents. The symptoms of streptococcal pharyngitis include fever, abdominal pain, and redness and swelling of the tonsils. Strep throat or Streptococcal pharyngitis usually requires antibiotic treatment. With the proper pharmacological treatment, along with plenty of rest and abundant fluids, your child should return to normal, rejoining the classes and recovering the desire to play in a few days. How is streptococcal pharyngitis spread? Anyone can get streptococcal pharyngitis, but it is more common in school-age children and adolescents. It occurs more often during the school year when large groups of children and adolescents share small spaces. The bacteria that cause streptococcal pharyngitis are found in the nasal and pharyngeal secretions of infected people, so normal activities such as sneezing, coughing or shaking the hand of an infected person may be possible routes of infection. That is why it is essential that you teach your child the importance of washing their hands – good hygiene habits can greatly reduce the chances of your child contracting infectious diseases such as strep throat. How is strep throat different from sore throat in general? Not all sore throats can be diagnosed as streptococcal pharyngitis. Most episodes of a sore throat, which can be accompanied by a runny nose, cough, hoarseness and eye redness, are caused by viruses. A sore throat usually remits spontaneously without the need for pharmacological treatment. If your child has strep throat, he will begin to develop other symptoms, apart from a sore throat, for about 3 days. These symptoms may include:
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