Robyn's Nest - The Parenting Network - Strep Throat Infection

Strep Throat Infection

By: Amy Molina. RN.C

Strep Throat Related Articles:
Childhood Disease & Illness
Home Remedies
Fever
Scarlet Fever
Giving Medicine to Young Children
Prevent Super Bugs

90% of sore throats are caused by viruses and are part of a cold. About 10% are due to Strep Throat Infection.

When your child develops strep throat, you may find the following symptoms:

	Child complains of a sore throat
	Children who are too young to talk may refuse to eat or begin to cry with feedings
	When examined with a light, the throat is bright red and may even have white spots (pus on the tonsils)
	Fever
	Frequently, strep throat will be accompanied by a sunburn-looking rash all over the body. This is known as Scarlet Fever. The rash should disappear with antibiotic treatment.

A throat culture or rapid strep slide test at the doctor's office is used to diagnose strep throat. Treatment can prevent rare but serious complications like rheumatic fever (heart disease) or glomerulonephritis (kidney disease). Treatment usually alleviates symptoms of sore throat and fever within 24 hours.

Home Remedies

Pain Relief

	Older children can gargle with salt-water solution or suck on hard candy like butterscotch lifesavers.
	Younger children can be given a teaspoon of corn syrup to soothe the throat.
	Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are great for fever and pain. Follow the recommended dosages according to your child's weight.

Diet

Your child's diet should consist of soft solids and plenty of clear liquids (popcicles, scrambled eggs, jello, pudding, ice cream and sherbet are soothing to the throat).

Your child is contagious until she has been on an antibiotic for 24 hours. After 24 hours on antibiotics your child may return to school if she is feeling well.

Strep throat can spread to others in the family. Any child or adult showing signs of illness should have a throat culture as well. Repeat cultures are not necessary if your child receives all of the antibiotics prescribed.

Common mistakes made in treating a sore throat:

1. Avoid expensive throat sprays or lozenges. Not only are they no more effective than hard candy, they contain benzocaine that may cause a drug reaction.

2. Avoid using left over antibiotics from siblings or friends. These should be thrown out because they deteriorate faster than other drugs. Antibiotics do not cure viral infections. Giving an antibiotic when you don't know if the child has strep can make it more difficult to figure out what's wrong with the child if he becomes sicker.

Last Updated: February 1, 2003

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Strep Throat Infection