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Streptococcal pharyngitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

About

A bacterial infection caused at the back of the throat, making it sore and scratchy.

This condition affects people of all ages including 20%-30% of the children. Overall, this condition affects about 12 million people annually. [1]
- Self-diagnosable
- Acute in nature.
- Highly infectious spreads easily.
- Treatment options available
- Lab tests, throat culture are always required.

Streptococcal pharyngitis or strep throat can prompt complications like kidney inflammation, scarlet fever, post-streptococcal reactive arthritis or rheumatic fever which can further trigger painful and inflamed joints or heart valve damage.

Symptoms

Streptococcal pharyngitis is self-diagnosable.
People suffering from streptococcal pharyngitis may experience:
-A headache
-Abdominal pain
-Tonsillar exudates (pus on tonsils)
-Nausea, vomiting
-Fever
-A sore throat
-Painful swallowing
-Problem breathing
-Rashes
-Body aches
-Red, swollen tonsils
-Throat pain
-Large, swollen, tender lymph nodes

Treatment

Self-care: Getting proper rest, drinking plenty of water, eating healthy food, gargling with warm salt water, using a humidifier, avoiding drinking and smoking or inhaling smoke and fumes from paints or cleaning products are recommended.
Medications: If left untreated, it resolves within a few hours or days. However, antibiotics, pain relief medications, and symptom relievers are helpful in reducing risk of complications.

Specialists: Consult a doctor for other concerns. At mfine, you can get a comprehensive treatment plan for optimum health."