Strep Throat is an infection that causes sore and scratchy throat. It is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes, which usually lives in an infected person's nose and throat. Strep throat is easily spread between people, and it can leave you in a lot of pain.
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Symptoms of Strep Throat
The primary symptom of strep is a sore throat. Other signs to follow may include the following;
- Discomfort during swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Body ache
- Stomach ache
- Vomiting
- Rash
Causes and Transmission of Strep Throat
The infection of the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes, also called Group A streptococcus is the cause of Strep Throat.
Streptococcal bacteria are highly contagious bacteria that can spread through contact with the mucus or saliva of an infected person.
If you share a toothbrush, spoon, or cup with an infected person, you are likely to contract the infection. If you kiss someone who has strep throat, you are also likely to be infected with strep throat.
If an infected person sneezed or coughed close to you, you will likely contract Strep throat when you breathe in the spread bacteria from the air.
Strep Throat Treatment
In most cases, medical experts usually treat Strep Throat with antibiotics. An antibiotic is a type of medication that helps kill or delay the growth of the bacteria which is responsible for the infection.
In some cases, antibiotics are given as pills, and in others, they are given to patients as injections. Common antibiotics used to treat Strep Throat are;
- Penicillin,
- Amoxicillin,
- Cephalexin, and
- Azithromycin.
The doctor usually prescribes these antibiotics, so it is expedient to visit one when you start showing symptoms.
Some other basic remedies to help fight this infection include;
- Getting plenty of rest
Resting well will help the body fight against this infection. If you are infected with Strep Throat, it is advisable that you don't take rest for granted.
- Staying hydrated
Keeping a sore throat lubricated will ease the pain of swallowing gulping and also prevent dehydration.
- Eat soothing foods. This helps by giving you relief from the stress or pain of swallowing heavy food, which may increase the effect of the infection.
- Gargle with warm saltwater. A cup of warm water with a little bit of salt gargled always helps in the treatment of this infection as it will help fight against the bacteria causing the infection.
- Boost your intake of vitamin C will help treat this infection. Consuming more vitamin C by taking a supplement and eating food rich in vitamin C like orange, strawberry, grapefruit, kale, and kiwi will help in treating this infection as deficiency of vitamin C has been linked to most respiratory infections.
It is often mentioned that strep throat usually cures by itself without the need for medical treatment. While this may be true, its recommended to treat it immediately to prevent the infection from getting worse and curb its spread.
