It's a bacterial infection that can lead to scarlet fever if untreated. It needs antibiotics to go away. Usally your doctor will do a throat swab first.
2006-08-05 18:58:29
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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How Bad Is Strep Throat
2016-11-07 11:00:09
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answer #2
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answered by ? 4
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it aint good!
What is strep throat? What are the signs of strep throat?
Strep throat is an infection caused by bacteria. It is called "strep" because the bacteria that causes the infection is called streptococcus.
Adults with strep throat may have a sore throat, a fever and swollen neck glands. They usually don’t have a cough or a runny nose.
Children with strep throat have a sore throat and may have tummy pain or a red rash with small spots. The rash is worse under the arms and in skin creases.
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How is strep throat treated?
Your doctor may give you or your child an antibiotic. Antibiotics kill bacteria, which helps strep throat go away a little faster. It can also prevent a few rare but serious conditions that people with strep throat might get. It is important to take all of the medicine your doctor gives you.
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Should all sore throats be treated with antibiotics?
No. Not every sore throat is strep throat. Bacteria only cause about 5% to 10% of sore throats. The rest are caused by viruses or other problems, and antibiotics will not help. Your doctor can do a test to make sure it is strep throat.
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What tests can tell I have strep throat?
Your doctor may use a test called the rapid strep test. For this test, the doctor uses a long cotton swab to take some material from the back of your throat. The results of this test can be ready in about 15 minutes.
Your doctor may also do a culture of the throat material. A sample of the throat material is sent to a laboratory. This test is called a throat culture. It takes more than 24 hours to learn the results of a strep culture.
The rapid strep test and the culture can tell your doctor if you have strep throat. If something else is causing your sore throat, these tests do not tell what it is.
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Can other people catch my strep throat?
Yes. You can give the infection to other people until you have been treated with an antibiotic for 1 to 3 days. Children with strep throat should not go back to school or day care until their fever has gone away and they have taken an antibiotic for at least 24 hours.
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What can make my sore throat feel better?
Here are some things that might help you feel better:
Taking ibuprofen (some brand names: Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol). Children should not take aspirin. Aspirin can cause Reyes syndrome --a serious illness-- and in some cases, death when it is used in children under 18 who have the flu.
Gargling with warm salt water (1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup [8 ounces] of warm water).
For adults and older children, sucking on throat lozenges, hard candy or pieces of ice.
Eating soft foods, drinking cool drinks or warm liquids or sucking on Popsicles.
2006-08-05 18:59:15
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answer #3
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answered by Dan G 3
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Strep throat is a disease which is extremely bad. you can die from it no lie but that would take a long time. if it is only been 1 day with it you can probaly get rid of it like me just try to be more caustiouse of germs and take vitiam c pill or things like that but if after 2 or 3 day its not less then go that second to the doctor.
2006-08-05 19:02:37
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Yes! It can affect your heart. I read about that last night.
Why is it very important to detect and treat a strep throat?
The condition known as rheumatic fever is a disease that affects the joints and heart and is caused by untreated or inadequately treated strep infection. Rheumatic fever can cause damage to the heart valves. Fortunately, it is now uncommon in the current antibiotic era. Another complication that can occur after inadequately treated strep throat is a kidney inflammation called glomerulonephritis. This can cause decreased kidney function, and blood and protein in the urine.
http://www.medicinenet.com/strep_throat/page3.htm#6whyis
2006-08-05 18:59:15
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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This Site Might Help You.
RE:
is strep throat bad?
2015-08-13 12:34:26
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answer #6
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answered by Dorise 1
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yes, streptococcus, its bacteria is very closly related to that of scarlet fever as well as the "flesh eating virus" which is in fact a bacteria, not a virus. In fact in some cases strep throat is fatal because it reaches the heart through the lungs and eats it to inflamation and cardiac arrest... this is rare. Anti biotics are typical treatments, and most people past the gestation stage of the infection within 4 days. I believe the incubation period is about a week, so you might have caught it a week or less ago.
2006-08-05 19:13:03
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answer #7
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answered by Chris E 2
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No. Strep throat is great. It's like there's a carnival of fun in your throat.
2006-08-05 18:58:11
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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Yes strep throat can be dangerous if not taken care of with antibiotics. Why because it is a staph infection and once staph gets into the blood it can be lethal. Many people die from staph infections
2006-08-05 19:01:35
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answer #9
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answered by tebone0315 7
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strep throat is a bacteria its not the throat that is just the problem it can get into other things as well and is highly contagious until 24 hours after treatment...
2006-08-05 18:59:20
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answer #10
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answered by Schmitz 4
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