Sore throat is a common symptom that brings many people into the office. One of the concerns patients have is strep throat. It’s a bacterial infection that affects the tonsils and the back of the throat and can be spread easily through respiratory mechanisms such as droplets. The culprit is a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus.
Late winter/early spring are peak seasons for strep throat, which accounts for 15-30% of cases of sore throat in children. Strep throat is fairly contagious and is spread via respiratory droplets (in other words, via exhalation, coughing, sneezing, etc.). Symptoms can appear anywhere from 1-3 days after the initial exposure and include sudden fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes along the neck, and inflammation of the tonsils and/or throat.
Unlike other infections, strep does not usually cause a cough. A provider will ask a series of questions to determine a person’s risk of having strep throat. Depending on the patient’s risk, a provider can choose to swab the patient, run a specialized test called a culture, or treat with antibiotics (if the patient is deemed to be high-risk).
As mentioned, the main way to treat strep throat is with antibiotics. However, don’t forget your other supportive measures including Tylenol or ibuprofen for fever/pain, saltwater gargles, tea or warm water with honey, etc. The supportive measures are there to help alleviate the symptoms, while the antibiotics will treat the underlying cause. Patients started on antibiotics should start to see an improvement in their symptoms soon afterward. Even if the symptoms start to improve early, it’s important to complete the full course of antibiotics to treat the infection. In adults, they can usually go back to work after 1 day of starting antibiotics as they are not as infectious. The recommendation to return to school is the same for children.
You might be wondering: what can we do to prevent getting strep throat in the first place? Good hygiene is always important, specifically frequently hand-washing with soap and water. Also try not to touch your face after touching other surfaces or other people. Being mindful of where your hands have been/are is a good way to protect yourself not just against strep throat, but against illness in general. If you’re concerned about a possible strep throat infection, you should make an appointment with your doctor to be evaluated. However, please keep in mind that you should call 911 for any emergencies, such as: trouble with swallowing or breathing, a stiff or swollen neck, signs of severe dehydration, decreased alertness in children. In most cases, though, a visit to the doctor’s office is sufficient for evaluation.
Dr. Katie Vu 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.