Strep throat is the Streptococcal infection of the throat and tonsils.
The bacteria
colonize the throat and tonsils causing inflammation and severe sore
throat.
What are the symptoms of strep throat?
Usually occur 2 to 5 days after infection. The most noticeable symptom is the severe sore throat. All symptoms are as follows:
Transmission
It is important to keep practicing good hygiene. The bacteria reside on epidermal tissue as well as within mucus. Someone carrying Streptococcal bacteria can transmit the bacteria to another person through direct skin to skin contact or through mucus to skin contact through a sneeze or cough. If the new host touches an open wound on his body, the bacteria take up residence.
If a person infected with Streptococcal bacteria washes his hands often, the bacteria are washed away. If a person washing out all cuts with soap or disinfectant, infection can be avoided. If a person infected with strep throat is not treated, he will continue to be contagious for two to three weeks.
Strep throat can be treated with antibiotics.
Penicillin, cephalexin, or amoxicillin are the most common antibiotics used to treat strep throat. With treatment, the bacteria will go away within three to seven days, but treatment must continue until the end of the prescription. While Streptococcus has not become antibiotic resistant yet, it has shown antibiotic tolerance. Complications can arise if a host is immunocompromised. This could result in rheumatic fever.
What are the symptoms of strep throat?
Usually occur 2 to 5 days after infection. The most noticeable symptom is the severe sore throat. All symptoms are as follows:
- Severe sore and inflamed throat or tonsils
- Yellow or white patches on the throat or tonsils
- Fever over 100
- Rash
- Lack of cough and other cold-like symptoms
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swollen lymphnodes
Transmission
It is important to keep practicing good hygiene. The bacteria reside on epidermal tissue as well as within mucus. Someone carrying Streptococcal bacteria can transmit the bacteria to another person through direct skin to skin contact or through mucus to skin contact through a sneeze or cough. If the new host touches an open wound on his body, the bacteria take up residence.
If a person infected with Streptococcal bacteria washes his hands often, the bacteria are washed away. If a person washing out all cuts with soap or disinfectant, infection can be avoided. If a person infected with strep throat is not treated, he will continue to be contagious for two to three weeks.
Strep throat can be treated with antibiotics.
Penicillin, cephalexin, or amoxicillin are the most common antibiotics used to treat strep throat. With treatment, the bacteria will go away within three to seven days, but treatment must continue until the end of the prescription. While Streptococcus has not become antibiotic resistant yet, it has shown antibiotic tolerance. Complications can arise if a host is immunocompromised. This could result in rheumatic fever.