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What is Strep Throat?

Strep throat is an infection caused by the bacteria, Streptococcus pyogenes. It is more common for children over three years of age to be infected. Left unchecked, serious complications can develop.

Symptoms

Symptoms of strep throat in children usually entail:
  • a sore throat
  • abdominal pain
  • a bright red rash
  • difficulty swallowing
  • fever
  • chills
  • aches and pains
  • loss of appetite
  • swollen tonsils
  • white pus on tonsils
  • swollen glands
  • loss of energy
If left untreated, strep throat complications can be as severe as a kidney infection, pneumonia, and/or tonsillitis. It is important to take your child to the doctor if you suspect strep throat.

How do they diagnose and treat it?

Your child's doctor can take a rapid-strep test, which can detect the bacteria that causes the infection in about ten - fifteen minutes. These tests are not 100 percent accurate. If the doctor suspects that the test is not accurate, he can send a culture out to a laboratory to be tested more extensively. This takes about 24 hours before results can be found.

If either of the tests conclude that your child does indeed have strep throat, your child's doctor will more than likely prescribe antibiotics, usually in the form of penicillin or some other anti-strep medication to clear up the illness.

Is it contagious?

This infection is extremely contagious and children who have contracted it should be kept home for at least 24 hours after taking the first dose of antibiotics. Be sure all of the antibiotic is taken as prescribed to prevent your child from getting rheumatic fever.

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