| It was seen that 5-15% of adults and 15-30% of | | | | show similar symptoms like a strep throat, and |
| children may be affected by pharyngitis, caused | | | | we can mention here fever, chills, headache, sore |
| by the bacteria group A streptococci. | | | | throat, muscle pain. |
| Strep infections must be identified very quickly | | | | It is necessary to see clearly if there is a flu or a |
| and treated with antibiotics at once. That is, | | | | strep throat. So, there must be performed some |
| because if not treated, the infection may lead to | | | | tests: rapid strep test, and a rapid influenza test. |
| secondary complications, like rheumatic fever and | | | | If these tests turn negative, and clinical signs |
| glomerulonephritis. It is also important to | | | | warrant it, there may still be necessary a blood |
| remember that strep throat is very contagious, | | | | test that evaluates the patient's white blood cells, |
| and can easily spread to close contacts. | | | | and blood cultures may be drawn, to exclude the |
| In order to see if group A streptococci is the | | | | risk of sepsis. It is known that sometimes, the |
| cause of the sore throat, the doctor will perform | | | | symptoms showed above can appear because of |
| a rapid strep test, and then, he will know to | | | | a serious acute illness, septicemia- that means |
| prescribe the proper antibiotics to start the | | | | bacteria growing in the blood. |
| treatment. But there appear the possibility that | | | | Starting a correct therapy is a necessary thing, |
| the rapid test turns to be negative. In this | | | | and that is why there must be done some tests, |
| situation, a culture to grow bacteria must be done. | | | | to see exactly what infection we are dealing with. |
| The results of this test are available in a few | | | | The diagnosis must be accurate and prompt. |
| days, but it is known it has a higher accuracy | | | | Many patients that are having streptococcal |
| then the rapid strep test. | | | | pharyngitis do not come to the doctor for |
| There must be done this second test, because | | | | treatment. They will recover as well, without |
| the doctor cannot exclude the possibility of strep | | | | antibiotic medication, but it is important to know |
| throat, until the laboratory performs a culture. | | | | that they will be contagious for a longer period of |
| The doctor will order this test, if there is present | | | | time, and they present an increased risk for |
| a sore throat and a fever, a swollen, tender neck, | | | | developing complications. |
| tonsils that appear red with white or yellow spots | | | | Usually, strep throat appears in children aged 5 up |
| at the back of the throat, headache and loss of | | | | to 10 years old. It is important to know that |
| appetite. | | | | there are about 20% of the school children that |
| It is known that strep throat spreads very easily | | | | have the bacteria, show no symptoms, but they |
| from person to person, through contact with | | | | can spread the infection to others. |
| respiratory secretions. It was seen that flu can | | | | |