Your child comes home from school. They start to complain of a sore, scratchy throat. It looks a little red upon inspection. Is it a virus? Allergies? Or could it be strep throat?
Let’s Discuss Common Symptoms and Treatment
First things first – let’s discuss the difference between pharyngitis (sore throat) and strep pharyngitis (sore throat caused by group A streptococcus bacteria). Pharyngitis simply means inflammation of the pharynx or throat. When the throat is infected by a virus or irritated by allergens, it can become dry and inflamed (part of your body’s immune response) and cause discomfort. If caused by a virus, a sore throat can be accompanied by a fever or congestion and is often alleviated by acetaminophen or ibuprofen, fluids, and cold, soft foods. If caused by allergens, many individuals find relief from over-the-counter medications like Zyrtec or Claritin, as well as pain relievers and fluids.
When a sore throat is caused by streptococcus bacteria, a fever and sore throat may be present, but there are other symptoms that you might not expect. For example, many children complain of a bellyache and nausea or a headache. Some may present with a bumpy red rash on their body that feels like sandpaper. The tonsils, in addition to being red or inflamed, may also be streaked with white patches or pus and/or you may see small red dots along the back of the throat or roof of the mouth. Swallowing is usually quite painful. While over-the-counter pain relievers and fluids may help some, the infection itself requires antibiotics to clear.
How Do You Test for Strep Throat?
If your child has had any of the symptoms above for over 24 hours, and especially if there has been a known exposure to strep, you should call the office to have them seen and tested. The strep throat test is simple and quick. A long swab that looks like a Q-Tip will be rubbed over your child’s tonsils for approximately 3 seconds by a well-trained nurse or medical assistant. The swab will then be placed in a special solution for about 5 minutes and then a test strip will be put into the solution. Depending on the markings on the strip, we will know if your child has strep throat or not.
I Don’t Like Giving My Child Unnecessary Antibiotics – Do They HAVE To Take Them?
Being conservative about antibiotic use is understandable, however, in the case of strep throat, adhering to the prescribed course is very important. A strep infection left untreated can put your child at risk for complications, such as Rheumatic Fever (an inflammatory condition that can affect the heart, joints, nervous system, and skin) or kidney inflammation.
My Child Has Been Diagnosed with Strep Throat – Now What?
When your child is first diagnosed with strep throat, they should stay home from school and other activities. Once they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours and are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications, they may return. Be sure to swap out toothbrushes, disinfect high-traffic areas in the house, and encourage good hand washing.
Stay healthy!
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From the Triage Desk 
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