Episode 35: Strep throat

We are back again and this time addressing a question from a parent who wonders, "Do kids get sick more often in the back-to-school season and what can I do to keep my kids healthy?”  The short answer is “yes”.  It IS common for kids to get more frequent infections anytime they are around other people. Hand hygiene, social distancing, vaccines on top of a healthy foundation of adequate rest, good nutrition, movement are your best defenses. 

Viruses certainly predominate and can be recognized by general symptoms of fever, runny nose, cough, muscle aches, headaches, tummy aches and sore throat. 

A sore throat is a feature of VIRAL illness but what about strep throat? Strep throat is a BACTERIAL infection in the back of the throat (the pharynx) caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (also known as Group A strep). Pediatricians start to think about a bacterial infection when it is seen in isolation-a sore throat only or maybe with a headache or tummy ache but WITHOUT the more commonly recognized URI symptoms like runny nose and cough. 

When your doctor is concerned for strep throat, an easy throat swab done in the office with or without a bacterial culture is all that is needed to confirm or refute the diagnosis of strep throat. We treat strep throat with antibiotics (usually amoxicillin) to treat the infection but more importantly, to reduce the likelihood of post-strep sequelae such as rheumatic heart disease and post-streptococcal kidney disease.

Is my kid getting sick too often? Check out Episode 5: House calls: “My child is always sick.” Frequency of colds and when to think it might be something else.