Just a little sore or beginning of strep throat? Take a 10-mins Strep Test

Winter sure comes along with the holiday season; but with flus and infections too! Amongst all, a sore throat is most common! Let us talk more about it.

Is it a sore throat or could you have strep throat?

This question arises when you are feeling pain and tingling in the back of your throat, and it hurts to swallow.

What is a Strep Throat?

Strep throat is caused by a specific bacteria known as ‘Group A Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus’ (GABHS). Strep throat can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. It accounts for only a small part of bacterial sore throats. If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever.

A 10-mins RAPID STREP TEST is available at Dr Chainani's- Tifton’s trusted New Medical Center

It can diagnose a case in just a few minutes

Drs. Navdeepa and Dr. Nandlal Chainani and their expert team is at your service. Please take the test if you are exposed to someone with strep or have any strep throat symptoms. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Pain, fever, but no cough? They are common strep symptoms

Strep throat starts as a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The common signs & symptoms of strep throat include:

· Sore throat that can start very quickly

· Pain when swallowing

· Fever

· Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

· Petechiae (tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth)

· Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Other than these, a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting — especially in children is seen. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash; a scarlet fever symptom

Strep throat is contagious, so the earlier it is treated, the better. People spread the bacteria that causes strep throat to others through-

· Respiratory droplets

· Direct contact

People at increased risk

Adult and pediatric patients commonly develop a sore throat, especially during the winter months and often associated with the common cold making them more susceptible to further infection!

Note: It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.

Strep throat is more common in children

Up to 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat

About 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat

So, it is clear which age group is more at risk!

Children and Strep throat

Mostly found in children & being transmittable through touches & droplets, 2 activities become crucial-

Take precautions

Ask your kids to -

· Not share water bottles or any common things in the school

· Maintain physical distance

· Wash hands in frequent intervals

But then as we know children will be children, so get the test done ASAP with a single symptom or with mere exposure.

Protection is the best precaution!

Did you know that having strep throat does not protect someone from getting it again in the future?

Walk-in or book your appointment with us.

During this holiday season, let us spread the joy and not the Strep!

Happy Holidays from Drs. Chainani and the entire New Medical Center team!!