Strep Throat/Sore Throat

Each year, more than 60 Fijians die of Rheumatic Heart Disease- and it all starts with an untreated sore throat.






While not all sore throats are strep throats, the only way to know if a child has a sore throat or strep throat is to have them tested by a doctor or nurse. Untreated strep throat can often lead to rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. it is important that every sore throat is taken seriously and checked by a health professional.

How can a sore throat cause Heart Damage ?

If a child has a sore throat, it might be caused by a Group A Streptococcus infection, often referred to as Strep Throat. This kind of infection is most common in children aged 5 to 15 but it can also affect anyone.

If the infection is not treated, it can cause Rheumatic Fever- a very serious illness that can cause long- term damage to the heart and can lead to early death.

Sore Throat and Strep Throat

Two different germs cause sore throats – viruses and bacteria. They are both contagious and easily spread to others. The germs hang out in the nose and throat. When the infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, the germs go into the air. They are then breathed in by others.                                 

There are two major causes of sore throat:

  1. Virus: commonly caused by the common cold and flu with visible redness at the back of your throat.
  2. Bacteria (strep throat): commonly caused by a type of bacteria, Group A Streptococcus with dark red spots on the roof of the mouth and white patches on the throat.

What is a Strep Throat

Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by Group A Streptococcus and is extremely contagious. Strep throat requires prompt treatment to avoid serious complications like Acute Rheumatic Fever.

Who can get a Strep Throat?

Anyone can get strep throat, but it is most common in school-aged children (5 to 15 years old.).

Many people have these bacteria living in their throat and nose. Group A strep (GAS) does not exhibit symptoms while dormant. But when this bacteria is active, it has the ability to attack parts of the body, including the tonsils. It is easily spread by:

  • droplets of saliva which enter the air through coughing or sneezing
  • contact with fluid from the nose or from infected skin sores
  • crowded settings and areas with poor hygiene facilities for hand and body washing can increase the risks of getting Group A Strep (GAS) infection.

Symptoms

Do you know what strep throat looks like?

Some of the signs of strep throat will be visible. This include:

    • white patches on the tonsils or throat,
    • dark red splotches or spots on the roof of the mouth, and
    • throat pain
    • difficulty in swallowing
    • fever above 38 degrees celcius 
    • croaky voice (droga or kharash)

Children with untreated strep throat are more likely to spread the infection when their symptoms are most severe. That’s why it is so important to teach kids to wash their hands well and often. This lowers their chances of getting contagious diseases like strep throat.

Red Spots on the roof of the mouth are signs of Strep Bacteria infection (Picture Source: https://phil.cdc.gov/details.aspx?pid=3185 )

What to do if you have a Strep Throat?

Doctors can do a quick test to see if a sore throat is strep throat.

Medications are available to cure strep throat, relieve its symptoms, and prevent its complications and spread.

  • Antibiotics – Benzathine penicillin
  • Pain relievers – Ibuprofen, Panadol and Tylenol.

Despite the fact that kids feel better, it is very important to take all of the prescribed antibiotics, even after sore throats gets better. 

It is the best way to kill the harmful bacteria and prevent the infection from coming back.  

You can be contagious for 2-3 weeks if left untreated; but, if you take your antibiotics, you will not be contagious after 24 hours of treatment.

Most children with strep throat should be isolated from school for 24 hours after antibiotic treatment to reduce the spread of GAS bacteria to other children.

Complication

Complications can occur after a strep throat infection. This happens when the bacteria spreads to other parts of the body. 

Sometimes in response to a strep infection, the body’s immune system will attack healthy tissues causing complications such as rheumatic fever – a serious illness that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart.

Antibiotic treatment reduces the risk of complications.

Prevention

People can get strep throat more than once. It is a very contagious illness.  While there is no vaccine to prevent strep throat, there are ways in which we can help protect ourselves and others.

The best way to stop the spread of Group A Streptococcus is to 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Click on link for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IisgnbMfKvI
  • Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you don’t have a tissue.
  • avoid sharing personal items (toothbrushes, etc.)
  • stay home when you feel sick
  • take prescribed antibiotics to prevent spreading strep bacteria to others

You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them.

Some of the best way to stop the spread of Group A Strep Germ

References