Pharyngitis is the medical term for a sore throat, which everyone has had at one time or another. It can occur for several reasons, including dry air, allergic reactions, air irritants, muscle strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Upper respiratory illnesses are also commonly linked with sore throats; colds, influenza, COVID-19, and other viruses or bacteria are frequently responsible.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that also causes a sore throat and other undesirable symptoms. Unfortunately, some patients may also find it spreading to neighboring areas, such as the sinuses, tonsils, and even the skin. Many of the sore throat issues listed can be managed with home care, but can you do that with strep throat, or should you seek medical attention?
Dr. Andrew Nangalama and the American River Urgent Care medical team are here to help the Orangevale and Racho Cordova, California area with strep throat and a range of other medical issues.
This throat problem results from group A Streptococcus (or group A strep), which contains over 120 different strains of harmful bacteria. Anyone can contract this infection, but it’s most common in schoolchildren aged 5-15 and is the leading cause of sore throat in this age group. Because it’s highly contagious, the risk of infection is higher in groups, such as daycare centers and classrooms, as well as other places with a high concentration of children. Globally, over 600 million cases of strep throat happen annually, accounting for up to 15% of sore throats in adults and 35% in children.
If the bacteria are present, getting this infection is sadly very easy. You can inhale bacteria, but the droplets easily contaminate surfaces, making touching anything an infected person has touched a way to become infected, such as doorknobs, faucets, sharing food or drink, or direct contact. Incubation of the infection can take up to five days, and the illness is highly contagious during this time.
People with this illness typically experience a swollen throat and enlarged tonsils, accompanied by white patches, streaks, or spots of pus in those areas. Petechiae (tiny red spots) may also appear on the roof of your mouth. The symptoms vary in severity with the infection; you may experience a mild case with only a sore throat, or you may deal with more severe signs, such as headache, chills, fever, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and swallowing problems.
Treatment for strep throat is necessary, regardless of whether you have a mild or severe case. Because the illness is so contagious, treating everyone helps lower the chance of further infection, which, with proper treatment, can be accomplished in about 10 days with medications like antibiotics. Without treatment, the infection will eventually subside, but you’ll continue to experience symptoms for several weeks longer and remain contagious throughout. If you know someone who has strep throat and you’ve been in close contact with them, you should seek medical attention to check for an infection and receive treatment.
Strep throat is generally not severe, but it can be very unpleasant and, through infection, spread that misery to others. If you think you have strep throat, contact Dr. Nangalama and American River Urgent Care today to relieve those symptoms.
