Understanding the Causes of Strep Throat

By:Groshan Fabiola

Strep throat is an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria that causes inflammation, soreness and swelling of the throat and tonsils. Strep throat can be accompanied by fever, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain and distress. Strep throat can either have moderate or serious symptoms and it needs special care and attention in order to prevent the development of complications.

The bacteria responsible for strep throat are very contagious. Streptococcus bacteria can be easily contracted through sneezing and coughing. The bacteria are airborne and therefore good hygiene can’t effectively prevent strep throat from occurring. It is possible to get strep throat simply by breathing the same air with an infected person. Children and teenagers are often confronted with strep throat but the illness can occur in adults just as well.

It is important to note that not all sore throats are strep throats. Sore throats are caused by infection with viruses and they tend to heal very quickly. In most cases, people with sore throat don’t need any kind of medical treatment at all. Strep throat, however, needs special care and attention, as the illness can become serious. The symptoms of strep throat are usually more intense than those of sore throat and they may sometimes spread throughout the entire body (generalized state of fatigue, body weakness and muscular pain). Strep throat also needs specific medical treatment with antibiotics.

The symptoms of strep throat don’t occur right after contracting the bacteria. Streptococcus bacteria have an incubation period of around 3-4 days. Only after this amount of time the symptoms of strep throat will become noticeable. The symptoms of strep throat are usually painful and irritated throat, difficulty swallowing, inflammation and swelling of the tonsils, tenderness and swelling of the lymph nodes (the glands on both sides of the neck), fever, headache, muscular pain, fatigue, stomach pain and distress. People with strep throat have poor appetite and they feel very weak.

Serious symptoms that require immediate medical help are high fever, rash (a sign of infection with powerful bacteria), difficulties in swallowing, difficulties in breathing, intense throat pain, throat swelling and throat bleeding. If you detect the presence of these symptoms in your child, it is strongly recommended to pay a visit to a physician.

Strep throat in children requires extra parental care. The illness can cause serious complications if it is not discovered in time. Also, an appropriate treatment needs to be administered until the full remission of the illness. Even if the symptoms of strep throat may disappear in the first few days of treatment, it doesn’t mean that the infection is completely overcome. Follow the doctor’s directions and administer the suggested doses of antibiotics to your child. Make sure that you don’t stop the treatment prematurely. In order to efficiently fight bacterial infections, antibiotics should be administered for at least ten days. It is important to respect your doctor’s indications in order to prevent the reoccurrence of strep throat right after interrupting the treatment.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: strep throat, sore throat

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

So if you want to find out more information about strep throat, and especially about sore throat, please follow this link strep-throat-center.com

Top Health Articles
1). Collarbone Injury By : Frank Vanderlugt The clavicle or “collar bone” connects the scapula bone in the shoulder to the sternum in your chest. It functions to hold the shoulder upward and backward. Clavicle fractures are common bone injuries. A break in the clavicle bone is usually a closed fracture that normally takes approximately 6 weeks to heal in an adult, 4 weeks in a child. The injury rarely requires surgery.
2). The Hottest Hair Trends And The Sexiest Hairstyles For 2007 By : Copyright 2006 David Maillie Hair has become unequivocally important as it can literally make one look like a movie star or a has been from Hee Haw, which died out many years ago. It is big enough that it is a multi billion dollar industry and the average bill in a salon is approaching $100. In the big cities with a hot hairstylist like Jonathon in Beverly Hills prices can easily top $500 for a cut and style.
3). Muscle Imbalance And Chronic Injuries By : Jeff P. Anliker, LMT Injuries can occur anywhere and at anytime, but the most prevalent place of occurrence is in the workplace. The reason for such a high rate of injury is that people spend 8-18 hours a day, 5-7 days a week performing unidirectional (one-way) movement patterns, causing an imbalance in the musculoskeletal system that results in the overuse and under use of certain muscle groups.
4). Why Whey Protein? By : Sandy Knoll With all of the recent negative press given to body supplements, it makes good sense to be cautions about using different nutritional supplements as a part of your body building efforts. Whey protein has been lauded as a safe, natural and simple supplement. It's use has become popular for those genuinely interested in good health through physical fitness and body building.
5). Autism and its Generated Behavioral and Mental Impairments By : Groshan Fabiola Autism is a complex neurological disorder that dramatically affects people’s behaviors and social interactions. The disorder can be revealed in early childhood, by the age of 3. Although the first signs of autism can sometimes be identified in infants, the disorder is usually discovered at a later stage of life. Autistic children present a wide range of behavioral abnormalities, and they can be easily identified among normal children.
6). Why Asbestos Cancer Affects More Men? By : Alfred J.James Who needs to be examined? Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos fibers on the job or at home via a family contact should inform their physician of their exposure history and any symptoms. Asbestos fibers can be measured in urine, feces, mucus, or material rinsed out of the lungs. A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be recommended.
7). The Benefits of Martial Arts Training By : Clint Leung As any martial arts practitioner will tell you, there are multiple benefits in martial arts training. Of course, the most obvious benefit is a knowledge of self defense which is one of the major reasons why the martial arts were developed in the first place. Knowing how to defend oneself and loved ones in a potentially dangerous situation is an asset in today’s world just as it was hundreds of years ago.
8). Study Says Obesity May Be Caused By Virus By : Rick Hendershot In new study published this month, a research team claims to have found evidence that a contagious virus can contribute to obesity. The team found that a specific human adenovirus Ad-37 seems to trigger obesity in chickens. Previous studies had linked other adenoviruses -- Ad-36 and Ad-5 -- to obesity in animals. These and other adenoviruses cause colds and other common illnesses in people.
9). How Long Will It Take To Gain Muscles\| Build Muscle Mass By : Chris Chew There are many factors to consider when you want to know how long will it take for you to gain and build muscle mass. Questions like are you eating enough and the right nutrients to accelerate muscle growth, are you exercising correctly and regularly and do you have the genes for quick muscle growth need to be addressed. In this article, we shall discuss whether you have the genetic make up to gain and build muscles quickly.
10). Breathe Easy: Some Asthma Relief Tips By : Nick Carter Asthma is the seventh-ranked chronic health condition in the United States and the leading chronic illness of children. It is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants. During an asthma attack, tightening of the smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes causes them to become inflamed, narrow inside, and produce excess mucus.

New Health Articles
1). How To Break An Addiction By : John Morris You need to evaluate the problem and find what triggers your addicts and what specific need it is using. Once you have determined that, you can begin breaking yourself of the habit one step at a time...
2). How Disabled People Overcome Their Disabilities For Better Sexual Health By : Gregg Hall For the most part these people can participate in sexual activity and take pleasure in the intimacy of having a partner. Participating in a healthy sexual relationship is a critical part of therapy do the disabled and helps them rebuild self confidence.
3). Fight Those Winter Time Blues ! By : ian Williamson In North America, it is estimated that 50 to 60 percent of the population is affected by winter depression.
4). Cord Blood Banking: A Medical Safety Net By : Greg Roy Why pregnant women should consider cord blood banking when their children are born.
5). Make Your Heart More Healthy By : Dan Sherman Does it seem like there are more health risks these days than there were in the past? Well, the plain and simple truth is, there are. Now, more than ever, people around the globe grapple with various heath afflictions.
6). The Best Ways To Quit Cigarette Smoking By : Jonty Smith The author packed in his 40-a-day habit within a few hours. He did it quickly, easily and painlessly. Why then do so many other smokers struggle to quit? In this article, the author explains the best ways to quit cigarette smoking, and why many of the established methods are counter-productive.
7). Can Chocolate Really Kill Your Dog By : Gregg Hall We have all heard this all of our lives but how big a threat is it really? Is it life threatening or will it just make him sick? How much chocolate does the animal have to eat for it to cause a negative reaction?
8). The Attraction Of Magnetic Therapy By : John Morris Magnetic therapy is an alternative treatment for common ailments. The most commonly treated ailments for that magnetic therapy is used for are arthritis, pain, inflammation, muscle tension, migraines, tumors, asthma, allergies, diabetes and many other joints or healing complaints...
9). Symptoms, Signs, and Triggers of Anxiety Attacks By : Amit Mehta Discover key symptoms and signs of anxiety attacks, and how they affect the lives of anxiety attack sufferers. Also, learn how an anxiety attack can be coupled with agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces.
10). Power Scooters...Ask The Right Questions To Get The Right Answers By : RC Rougeux Asking the right questions can help you find out the information important to you. Use these when shopping for your next power scooter.