Is It Strep? Is it strep or a virus?

 

 

Strep throat is most common in children between ages 5 and 15, but it affects people of all ages. In addition to throat soreness, strep throat may cause a fever and tender, swollen neck glands. Younger children may complain of abdominal pain.

Although strep throat itself isn't dangerous, untreated strep throat may lead to potentially serious complications — including inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis), scarlet fever and rheumatic fever.

 

Call your doctor if you or your child has any of these signs and symptoms:

• A sore throat without a cold or runny nose
• A sore throat accompanied by tender, swollen lymph glands (nodes)
• A sore throat that lasts longer than 48 hours
• A fever higher than 103  in older children, or any fever lasting longer than 48 hours
• Rash
• Joint pain
• Problems breathing or difficulty swallowing anything, including saliva

Call your doctor if you or your child doesn't feel better after taking antibiotics for 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes problems occur even after you or your child has finished treatment for strep throat.

 

If you or your child has strep throat, your doctor will likely prescribe an oral antibiotic. Penicillin may be given by injection in some cases — such as if you have a young child who is having a hard time swallowing or is vomiting from strep throat.

 

These antibiotics reduce the duration and severity of symptoms, as well as the risk of complications and the likelihood that infection will spread to classmates or family members.

 

Once treatment begins, you or your child should start feeling better in just a day or two. Call your doctor if you or your child doesn't feel better after taking antibiotics for 24 to 48 hours. If children on antibiotic therapy feel well and don't have a fever, they often can return to school or child care when they're no longer contagious — usually 24 hours after beginning treatment. But be sure to finish the entire course of medicine. Stopping medication early may lead to recurrences and serious complications, such as rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation.

 

In addition to antibiotics, your doctor may suggest ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to relieve throat pain and reduce fever. Because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a potentially life-threatening illness, don't give aspirin to young children. Be careful with acetaminophen, too. Taken in large doses, it can cause serious problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.