Who Can Get It
Strep throat is more common among children aged 5 to 15, but can affect people of all ages. Its rare in children under 3 years of age. Adults who are parents of school-aged children or who are often in contact with children are more at risk for strep throat. Youre also at higher risk for strep throat if you have close contact with a person with strep throat as itâs highly contagious.
Testing Confirms Presence Of Bacteria
Classic symptoms of strep throat include a painful sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, swollen neck glands, nausea, and headache. Upon examination, the throat appears red, often with white or yellow dots or streaks, tiny red dots on the upper palate, and swollen tonsils. Sore throats accompanied by cold or flu-like symptoms, such as nasal congestion and cough, are typically caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not effective to kill viruses. To avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics and development of resistance, the diagnosis of a bacterial infection is essential before prescribing antibiotics. Since symptoms alone cannot definitively diagnose strep throat caused by bacteria, a rapid strep test detects the presence of a bacterial infection using a swab of the throat, followed by a culture if the rapid test is negative.
When Does A Doctor Recommend Taking Antibiotics For A Sore Throat
If you have a bad sore throat and your doctor has made a strep throat diagnosis, they may prescribe antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin to help you get well fast. Taking antibiotics can decrease the duration and severity of your symptoms. It can also prevent the bacterial infection from spreading. Antibiotics are also prescribed to prevent serious but rare problems like rheumatic fever.
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Be Careful In Your Cure For Strep Throat
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Are there any other treatments besides antibiotics for strep throat?
– Wendi
Strep throat refers to an infection caused by bacteria called Group AStreptococcus pyogenes. Your parents probably told you the symptoms: fever a very, very sore throat swollen and tender lymph glands under the jaw and a swollen and red area at the back of your throat that may have white dots. But those symptoms don’t always mean you have strep – they accompany many viral infections. One important clue: If you don’t have the usual symptoms of a viral infection – like a cough, runny nose, hoarseness, and eye irritation – it’s more likely to be strep.
The only way to really know if you have strep is to visit a doctor and get a culture taken. There are also some very rapid tests that give results within minutes, but these come up with a high percentage of false negatives. Standard cultures can take several days.
Many doctors will make a tentative diagnosis based on their observations and begin treatment pending the results from a culture. Penicillin is the gold standard treatment to kill the bacteria. Some doctors use other antibiotics, but they’re more expensive and less specific – adding to today’s problem of antibiotic resistance. Treatment is also begun right away because the symptoms can be so painful. Generally, you should feel some improvement within 24 to 48 hours after starting the antibiotics.
Is It Safe To Wait And See
You have heard that delayed prescriptions for antibiotics result in much lower use of them, without apparent ill effects to patients.17,18 In particular, you remember reading about a UK trial in which the rate of antibiotic use was reduced from 99% to 31%, in children with otitis media, with no apparent ill effects.19
You explain to Joes father that it is likely that Joe has a streptococcal throat infection. Such infections are mildly relieved by penicillin treatment, but the effect is greater in patients who are more ill than Joe is. He is a healthy boy, and it is likely that the worst of his infection is over he will probably be better anyway in a few days. There is no harm in taking analgesics and soothing drinks.
As there are no signs of complications, you give Mr Smith a prescription for a 5-day course of penicillin V, and suggest that Joe only take the antibiotics if he has not improved in 2 days. They are to come back and see you again if there are any problems with the illness or the treatment.
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Causes & Symptoms Of Strep Throat
Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils. Its caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, also called group A strep. The group A strep bacteria is very contagious. It spreads through contact after an infected person coughs, sneezes, touches your mouth, nose or eyes. The bacteria also spreads by sharing a glass, utensil, plate or even a doorknob. This is why strep throat seems to happen more often in the colder months when people tend to be in closer quarters.
Strep throat symptoms typically start within five days of exposure to the strep bacteria symptoms include :
- Sore throat and difficulty swallowing
- Red and swollen tonsils
- Red spots on the roof of the mouth and a white or yellow coating on the throat and tonsils
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or above
- Headache and body aches
- Non-itching, red rash, which is a sign of scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is a serious bacterial infection.
Living With Strep Throat
Strep throat is an infection that typically comes and goes, especially when youre younger. If you have recurring strep throat, it could be that someone in your family is a carrier of strep. Carriers have the strep bacteria in their throats, but it does not make them sick. Treating carriers can help prevent the spread of strep.
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Natural Remedy For Strep Throat
- 3 Tablespoons of raw, organic honey
- 3 to 5 Slightly crushed cloves of organic garlic
- 1/8 Teaspoon of Cayenne powder
Mix these together and take one teaspoon of this mixture every hour. Simply swallow the garlic cloves whole, you dont need to chew them. Continue making this mixture and eating a teaspoon of it every hour until your sore throat is completely gone. Dont drink or eat anything for at least 20 minutes afterwards so these ingredients can do their work on your throat.
This mixture is very soothing and even those who dont care for garlic will find that, when mixed with honey, it tastes pretty good and works super-fast. Many people with strep throat lose their voices and this should restore your voice in a matter of hours! This mixture might seem too simple to fight something as strong as strep throat, but its absolutely 100 percent effective.
Be sure that the honey you are using is real honey, raw and organic, the way nature intended it. A great deal of the stuff you buy at the store isnt honey at all, but some type of corn syrup with a bit of coloring and perhaps a couple drops of pollen. Raw honey has about 5,000 enzymes, 27 minerals, 22 amino acids and lots of antibacterial properties that will help to kill that strep throat dead it its tracks. Find out more everything you wanted to know about raw honey.
Cayenne pepper will bring fresh blood to the area to promote healing. Its also high in vitamin C, which supports the immune system.
Stopping The Spread Of Strep Infection
Since Streptococcus bacteria are highly contagious through saliva and nasal secretions, prevention of the spread of strep is similar to measures used against viral cold or influenza. This includes hand washing and covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Patients should not return to school, day care, or work until they are no longer contagious and have no fever, usually 24 to 48 hours after beginning antibiotics. Streptococcus bacteria can also remain alive on objects such as a toothbrush for several days, so replacing a toothbrush after 24 to 48 hours of antibiotic therapy and thoroughly cleaning orthodontic retainers every day can prevent patients from reinfecting themselves.
The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.
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How Can I Get Better
If you have strep throat, your doctor will give you an antibiotic, a medicine that kills bacteria. To make sure the bacteria go away completely and don’t spread to other parts of your body, you must finish all of the medicine. Your doctor will have you take the pills or liquid for 10 days.
It’s really important to take all 10 days of the medicine to make sure all the bad bacteria are gone. If you don’t, you could get sick all over again.
Your mom or dad may give you acetaminophen to get rid of aches, pains, and fever. You’ll want to have soothing drinks, like tea and warm chicken soup. Frozen foods like ice cream or popsicles also can help to ease throat pain. Avoid spicy and acidic foods, such as orange juice, because they could hurt your tender throat.
Your doctor will tell you to stay home from school until you have been taking the antibiotic for at least 24 hours. This way, you won’t spread the bacteria to others.
Does Sulfamethoxazole Treat Strep
treatmentstrepdoBactrimtreatmentstrepdo
. Similarly, you may ask, what type of infections does sulfamethoxazole treat?
Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are are both antibiotics that treat different types of infection caused by bacteria. Bactrim is used to treat ear infections, urinary tract infections, bronchitis, travelers diarrhea, shigellosis, and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia.
Also, can sulfamethoxazole be used for sore throat? Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim will not treat viral infections, such as a cold. Discontinue and seek urgent medical advice if a skin rash develops. Seek urgent medical advice if an unexplained cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fever, muscle or joint pain, paleness or yellowing of the skin, or diarrhea develop.
Also question is, does sulfamethoxazole treat yeast infections?
Macrobid and Bactrim are antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections. Bactrim is prescribed to treat Candida fungal infections of the mouth, vagina, esophagus, lungs, urinary tract, abdomen, and other organs.
Can sulfamethoxazole treat syphilis?
The combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole was used in a variety of regimens to treat 2,687 male and female patients with gonorrhea. The drug had no effect on concurrent syphilis in three patients.
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What Can I Do To Cure Strep Throat Without Antibiotics
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Who Gets Recurring Strep Throat
Children most commonly develop strep throat, but it can affect people of all ages, notes the CDC. The bacteria can spread through settings where infected and healthy people are in close quarters, such as schools and daycare centers.
If you or your child gets strep throat and undergo a successful treatment plan, unfortunately, youre not immune to the GAS infection. And even if you avoid people with strep throat symptoms, you could be exposed to a GAS carrier a person whos asymptomatic but can still infect you.
But why are some people more susceptible to recurring bouts of strep throat than others? A group of researchers had the same question, and they , published by the American Association of the Advancement of Science. They found factors that, if working together, can lead to recurrent strep throat: genetics, certain cells going haywire, and an inability to produce the necessary antibodies to build strong immunity.
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How I Recently Treated Strep Without Antibiotics
Possible suggestion for kids Colloidal Silver, Elderberry Syrup, Vitamin C, Epsom Salt BathsVitamin C Epsom Salt Days 1 -3hourlyDays 4-10 Fresh GarlicRaw HoneyCayennehalf hourDays 1-3Days 4-5Days 6-10I felt well after 2 or 3 days, but I like to give immune boosters/natural antibiotics of some sort for a total of 7-10 days to make sure the patient is well.
Note:
- In other articles I have written about strep, I have had readers think I am ignorant for treating Strep at home. Strep can have dangerous side effects if left untreated. And I understand that thought pattern. But I am not leaving it untreated, I am treating naturally! And of course I always seek medical attention when needed, I would not hesitate to get help! Many have treated strep at home safely and with great success. I believe its always best to work with the natural immune system if possible.
- With strep, be sure to eliminate all sugar and dairy. That cold ice cream may feel wonderful to a sore throat, but these foods WILL hinder your recovery and prolong the sickness, most likely setting you back quite a bit.
- With a more serious illness like Strep, you must administer remedies more often as Ive mentioned above. Taking remedies only a few times a day for Strep is not sufficient.
- To make your own elderberry syrup and save lots of money, read HERE!
You can read my other post on strep HERE.Have you dealt with Strep Throat this winter?
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Conventional doctors today do a great job of scaring people out of their minds about the possibility of rheumatic fever/heart damage from allowing the body to deal with a strep throat infection unmedicated. However, the truth is, the risk of complications from strep throat is very small for healthy people who have no issues with their immune system. Even WebMD used to state that strep throat will go away on its own with or without treatment in 3-7 days.
Ive written before about the one and only case of strep throat I ever had. It occurred when I was 15 and I am ever so grateful my MD father loved me enough to let me fight through it and win without antibiotics. The result? Ive never ever gotten strep throat again despite repeated exposures. One exposure was in very close quarters a college roommate had strep throat and I still didnt contract it! Whats even more interesting is that none of my children have ever had strep either despite multiple exposures from friends and classmates.
I obviously built up a strong resistance to strep throat at a young age and have been blessed with never having to suffer with it again by allowing my body to fight through it naturally. Its also quite possible I passed on my immunity to my children via breastfeeding, although that is obviously just an educated guess on my part.
For others, the article triggered an aha moment with more than just a few deciding once and for all to stare down the strep throat demon and win!
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What Is A Bacterial Infection
Before learning about how to cure Bacterial Infection, it is essential to know what a bacterial infection is. Microorganisms like Bacteria can survive in different environments including the human body.
These can live in or on the body of humans. While there are many bacteria that are not harmful and greatly aid in body processes, certain bacteria do harm the body causing infections. Such infections are contagious and the transmission is through different media like air, food, and water.
What Are The Symptoms Of Strep Throat
The most apparent signs that a people experience this bacterial infections is that you may find it hard, painful and raw to swallow. Then, your throat must have been severely sore and red with white patches.
Other visible symptoms can be a headache, rashes, sudden fever, sore stomach, and swollen lymph.
Although fever is a sign of strep throat, many people still feel confused because sometimes they dont get any fever. If you want to understand it is true or not, read more on CAN YOU HAVE STREP THROAT WITHOUT A FEVER.
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Related Resources For Strep Throat
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This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.
Most Infections Respond Quickly To Antibiotics
Antibiotics are the appropriate treatment for strep throat since they stop the further spread of bacteria, reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other areas of the body, and help prevent serious complications. There are many antibiotics used in the treatment of strep throat. Most commonly used are penicillin or amoxicillin . Other antibiotics used to treat are azithromycin , cephalosporins, clarithromycin, and clindamycin. Side effects from antibiotics are generally mild and include stomachache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Factors to consider in the choice of antibiotic include the sensitivity of the bacteria to the antibiotic, patient allergies, dosing, taste, and cost. Seek emergency care immediately if wheezing, trouble breathing, rash, or fast heartbeat develops after antibiotic use. These symptoms can indicate an allergic reaction.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is appropriate to treat a fever, but aspirin should not be used in children and teens due to the risk of Reyes syndrome. Nonprescription lozenges and sprays may help soothe a sore throat, and saltwater gargles are effective in reducing sore throat pain.
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