Avneet Singh, 13, from Jammu, endured a week of excruciating throat discomfort in February 2023. This coincided with an increase in viral illnesses as the seasons shifted, so it made sense that her mother suspected a virus was to blame for her daughter’s symptoms. “I researched home remedies for sore throat and gave my daughter honey and ginger tea three times a day,” says Nishi Singh, Avneet’s mother. She also got her daughter to gargle with saltwater.
Avneet’s throat pain persisted despite her mother’s best efforts to treat it at home. When she noticed sores on her daughter’s neck, Nishi took Avneet to a doctor, who diagnosed her with strep throat.
What is strep throat?
“The doctor told us that it was a bacterial infection and not what I thought it to be [viral],” says Nishi. The treating doctor also pointed out some white patches on the back of her daughter’s tongue, which is indicative of a bacterial infection.
Dr Atul Kumar Mittal, principal director and head, ENT department, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, adds that this bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils, makes the throat feel sore and itchy.
“Strep throat gets its name from the type of bacteria that causes it — group A Streptococcus,” says Dr Mittal. “In medical terminology, it is called Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Strep throat is characterised by an inflammation of the tonsils that then spreads to the rest of the throat, resulting in a sore throat or pharyngitis.”
Dr Vijay Verma, consultant, allergy and ENT specialist, C K Birla Hospital, Gurugram echoes that strep throat is one of the most common complaints of those who have throat pain. Many individuals usually experience fever and body ache along with the condition.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that group A Streptococcus or GAS accounts for five to 15 per cent of sore throats in adults and 20 to 30 per cent of sore throats in the paediatric population.
Symptoms
As most of the symptoms are similar to what one experiences during a viral infection, it can sometimes be mistaken for one, just as Avneet’s mother did.
“Symptomatically, both the individuals have almost the same symptoms, but cough and runny nose are more common in a viral infection,” says Dr Verma. “White pus in the tonsils is observed in some individuals with a bacterial infection.”
Dr Mittal also lists out some of the symptoms of a strep throat:
- Sore throat that starts suddenly
- Fever, the highest being on the second day
- Painful swallowing
- Chills
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Red, sore, and swollen throat
- White patches, spots, or streaks of pus on the throat and tonsils
- Rashes that typically start on the neck and chest and then spread to the entire body depending on the bacterial strain.
How to diagnose
Dr Verma recommends visiting an ENT specialist at the earliest to avoid any long-term ill effects as GAS pharyngitis can also lead to complications apart from the throat. “Rheumatic fever, post-streptococcal reactive arthritis, scarlet fever [strep throat infection accompanied with red rash], shock syndrome, kidney damage, and autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder in children, are some of the complications,” he further added.
The treating doctor may seek a throat culture and blood tests to identify the causative organism and the severity of the infection.
Dr Mittal says that strep throat does not normally cause a cough, and if there is a cough with other cold symptoms, then one may have a viral infection.
“The presence of lymph node and tonsillar enlargement is the marker of a strep throat, however, it could also indicate other diseases and may be difficult to diagnose by a simple physical exam,” says Dr Mittal. “In such cases, a rapid antigen test or a throat culture would probably be needed that are painless and are just swabs taken from the throat.”
Managing and prevention
It is evident that the only way to treat bacterial infections is by antibiotics.
“Strep throat treatment includes antibiotics and symptomatic treatment like administering pain relievers and fever medication,” says Dr Mittal. “Most symptoms of strep throat go away within a week to 10 days.”
While strep throat can be painful, it is easily manageable. But one should not try to treat the condition at home. A certain type of bacteria causes strep throat, so it is important to go to your ENT doctor to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Dr Mittal recommends a few preventive tips for strep throat:
- Avoid direct contact with an infected person as strep throat spreads via respiratory droplets while speaking, coughing, and sneezing
- Follow hand hygiene – Wash your hands before eating
- Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow
- Avoid sharing cups and utensils
- Eat semi-solid or liquid foods
- Ensure adequate liquid intake and stay hydrated
- Gargle with warm saltwater
- Get adequate rest
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