What is strep throat?

Question

Also, what are the sings of it?

Answer 1

pharyingits caused by streptococcus pyogenes.

Answer 2

It is an infection of the throat by streptococcus bacteria. You need an antibiotic to cure it. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and antibiotics do not work on viruses, so it is neccessary to take a culture (sample of the cells in the throat that are put in growth medium). If the culture is positive, you need the antibiotic. If not, gargles with hot salty water, tylenol or ibuprofen for pain, and lots of fluids will do the trick.
An untreated strep infection can cause other problems- the bacteria can be carried by your blood and migrate to the heart and cause damage.
If you do get an antibiotic, take all of it for the required number of days or it will come back bigger and badder than before.

Answer 3

Strep throat is an infection in the back of your throat in the tonsil area, or your tonsils if you still have them. Usual symptons of strep throat are...a red swollen throat that is very itchy and dry, also the throat usually has white patches, but not always. The best thing to do if you think you have strep throat is to go to your doctor because you will need antibotics to clear it up.

Answer 4

It is a very nasty, nasty, infection of the throat. Swelling, puss, it's hard to talk, swallow, eating and drinking is almost out of the question. I've suffered most of my life from numerous bouts of it. If you feel a sore throat coming and you can't get rid of it in 2 days max. RUN to the Dr. and get a penicillin shot or something of the sort,because pills take to long to kick in. Trust me when I tell you. I wouldn't wish strep throat on anyone.

Answer 5

Strep throat is where the throat is overcome by a species of streptococcus bacterium due to a drop in heightened immunity (stress, a cold, things like that).
Signs of a strep throat are a REALLY inflammed set of tonsillar pillars, thick white exudates on the pillars, extreme pain, hard to swallow
(not to be confused with mono, gonorrhea tonsils, impacted food in tonsillar crypts).
treatment is penicillin in the butt! (preferred,but doctors do't dothat anymore because it is easier to take pills for 10 days instead of 1 shot in the butt!

Answer 6

You will see white spots on your throat. Strep must be treated by antibiotics. If you leave it and dont get it treated it can actually cause damage to your heart. It can also cause damage to the kidneys. People don't think its serious but it really is.

Answer 7

Strep throat is an infection caused by group A streptococcus bacteria.

it requires antibiotics to treat and kill the bacteria.

symptoms include

-Throat pain
-Difficulty swallowing
-Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
-Swollen, tender lymph glands (nodes) in your neck
-Fever
-Headache
-Rash
-Stomachache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children

Answer 8

It's the worst sore throat one can get, usually a sign of it is a feeling of a lump in the throat and perhaps a mild fever. If left untreated it can become quite serious.

You need antibiotics to clear it up as it is a bacterial infection.

My compliments

Answer 9

Strep throat is an infection caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, and it's very common among kids and teens. The symptoms of strep throat include fever, stomach pain, and red, swollen tonsils.

Strep throat usually requires treatment with antibiotics. With the proper medical care - along with plenty of rest and fluids - your child should be back to school and play within a few days.
How Does Strep Throat Spread?

Anybody can get strep throat, but it's most common in school-age kids and teens. It occurs most often during the school year when big groups of kids and teens are in close quarters.

The bacteria that cause strep throat tend to hang out in the nose and throat, so normal activities like sneezing, coughing, or shaking hands can easily spread the strep infection from one person to another. That's why it's so important to teach your child the importance of hand washing - good hygiene can lessen your child's chances of getting contagious diseases like strep throat.
What's the Difference Between Strep Throat and a Sore Throat?

Not all sore throats are step throats. Most episodes of sore throat - which can be accompanied by a runny nose, cough, hoarseness, and red eyes - are caused by viruses. Sore throats usually clear up on their own without requiring medical treatment.

If your child has strep throat, he or she will start to develop other symptoms within about 3 days. Those symptoms can include:

* red and white patches in the throat
* difficulty swallowing
* tender or swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
* red and enlarged tonsils
* headache
* lower stomach pain
* fever
* general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
* loss of appetite and nausea
* rash

Diagnosing Strep Throat

If your child's throat is sore and he or she has other strep throat symptoms, it's a good idea to call your child's doctor. The doctor will likely do a rapid strep test in the office, using a cotton swab to take a sample of the fluids at the back of your child's throat. The test only takes about 5 minutes. If it's positive, your child has strep throat. If the test is negative, the doctor will send a sample to a lab for a throat culture. The results are usually available within a few days.
Treating Strep Throat

In most cases, doctors prescribe about 10 days of antibiotic medication to treat strep throat. Within about 24 hours after your child starts taking the antibiotics, his or her temperature will probably be back to normal, and your child will no longer be contagious. By the second or third day after taking antibiotics, the other symptoms should start to go away, too.

Even though your child may not feel sick at that point, it's very important that he or she finish the antibiotic prescription. If your child stops taking antibiotics too soon, bacteria can remain in the throat and the symptoms can return.

If your child is not treated for strep throat, he or she is most infectious when the symptoms are the most severe but could remain contagious for up to 21 days. Lack of treatment - or not finishing the prescribed course of antibiotics - also could put your child at risk for other health problems, such as rheumatic fever (which can cause permanent damage to the heart), scarlet fever, blood infections, or kidney disease.

To prevent your sick child from spreading strep throat to others in your home, keep his or her eating utensils, dishes, and drinking glasses separate from those that everyone else is using. Wash them in hot, soapy water after each use. Also, make sure your child doesn't share food, drinks, napkins, handkerchiefs, or towels with other family members. Make sure your child covers his or her mouth and nose during a sneeze or a cough to prevent passing infectious fluid droplets to someone else. And it's a good idea to throw out your child's toothbrush after the antibiotic treatment has been started, and your child's sickness is no longer contagious.
Caring for Your Child With Strep Throat

There's plenty you can do to help your child feel better. To prevent dehydration, make sure your child drinks plenty of cool liquids, such as water or ginger ale, especially if he or she has had a fever. Avoid orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemonade, or other acidic beverages, which may irritate your child's throat. Warm liquids like soups, sweetened tea, or hot chocolate can be soothing.

As your child starts to feel better, talk to your child's doctor about the best time to return to school and other routine activities.