What is Strep Throat ?
Strep throat is a bacterial throat infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. It is one of the causes of a sore, scratchy throat – the most frequent reason for people to visit their doctors. But sore throats may also have other causes, of viral nature.
People usually treat soar throats as quickly as possible, because they are among the first symptoms of cold and flu. They usually last for only a few days, if the proper treatment is administered.
Strep throat is extremely contagious and may complicate, generating rheumatic fever, or potential inflammation of the kidneys. Rheumatic fever produces rash and inflammation of the articulations, and it may even damage the valves of the heart.
The most exposed to the risk of strep throat are children aged between 5 and 15, but they are not the only ones. It may affect people at any age. The most common symptoms are tenderness and inflammations of lymph glands inside the neck and fever; small children also experience pain in the abdomen.
In case any of the above-mentioned symptoms is present in your child, visit your doctor. Strep throat is easy to diagnose, so the treatment will be promptly administered.
Factors of risk
Strep throat is highly contagious: you and your child may catch it at school, kinder garden, work, from your family members or any group of people. It usually affects people in early spring, winter or the last days of the fall, but it may also occur in other months of the year. You can have this bacterial infection at any age, but most at risk are teenagers and kids.