Strep Throat

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes a sore, scratchy throat. It is caused by Streptococcus bacteria.

Strep throat spreads through tiny droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. One can get it by touching surfaces with these germs and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Sharing drinks, utensils, or kissing someone with strep can also spread it.

Strep Throat is most common in children, but anyone can get it. Also, it is more prevalent in the late fall, winter, and early spring months.

Symptoms:

• Red, swollen tonsils, with white patches or streaks of pus
  
  
• Tender lymph nodes of the neck
  
  
• Fever, headache, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, body aches, fatigue, red rash, and tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
  
  
• If one has a cough, it is less likely strep throat, but one should still go to the clinic to be evaluated by a physician

Consequences of delaying treatment of Strep Throat:

One can get rheumatic fever which can cause damage to the heart. One can also develop abscesses around the tonsils that may need to be drained.

Treatment:

Strep Throat is treated with antibiotics. If one suspects Strep, one should be evaluated by a physician. If treatment is delayed, one can be contagious for 2-3 weeks, but with treatment, one is usually not contagious after 24 hours. This is not only beneficial for the person being treated but will help reduce the spread of the bacteria in the community.

Dr. Hossain is a resident physician who sees patients of all ages and provides obstetrical services at Lone Star Family Health Center, a non-profit 501©3 Federally Qualified Health Center operating facilities in Conroe, Spring, Willis, Grangerland, and Huntsville, and serving as home to a fully integrated Family Medicine Residency Program to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians for Texas and our community.