Strep | Flu | Covid | RSV
Common Symptoms
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Sore Throat
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Enlarged tonsils often covered with white pus
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Headache, fever, nausea and vomiting
Cause
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Strep throat is caused by Group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus
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It is spread by direct, close contact with an infected person.
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Moist bacteria on toothbrushes or similar items can persist for up to 15 days.
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12% carry GAS in their pharynx, and, after treatment, approximately 15% of those remain positive, and are true "carriers".
Diagnosis
Throat Culture
This is the gold standard for strep testing. The doctor takes a throat sample and sends it to a certified lab to grow the bacteria. Culture testing has a 95% accuracy in diagnosis strep.
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Rapid Throat Swabs
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Rapid tests are fast and can deliver results in as little as 10 minutes, however has a lower sensitivity than the "Gold Standard" culture. The CDC recommends a follow up culture if patient received a negative result from a rapid throat swab and the doctor suspects strep is present.
Treatment
Antibiotics
Antibiotics normally treat strep in 3-5 days. It is crucial to adhere to the doctor's instruction and complete the full antibiotic regimen.
Children can return to school after 12 of antibiotics and no longer have a fever
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Contact your doctor if symptom still persist after 48 hours from taking antibiotics.
