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If you or your child is showing symptoms of strep throat you might be wondering what you can do to treat the problem safely and effectively. There are many things about strep throat that are a mystery to some people. The information presented here will help you catch strep throat earlier and know what to do to treat the problem.

What Are The Symptoms Of Strep Throat?

One of the first questions that parents and caregivers ask is what are the symptoms of strep throat. First and foremost you will notice a sore throat. This is more than just a dry throat. Usually it feels really hard to swallow and can even feel like they is some sort of painful lump in your throat. When you look inside the throat using a flashlight you will see tiny red or white spots around the throat and even on the tongue. These are actual spots and pustules of infection.

However, other illness present with sore throats as well, so if the person is running a fever, feeling week, or overall very tired, it is very likely that they have strep throat.

How Do You Test For Strep?

You cannot detect strep by simply looking at it. The doctor can be pretty confident that it is strep throat, but in order to confirm it, you will have to run a strep test. This is when the nurse or doctor swabs the back of the throat and then puts the swab in a solution that will turn a certain color if strep is on the swab. The test usually takes only a couple minutes to complete.

What Is The Treatment For Strep?

If it is determined that you have strep throat you need to take an antibiotic to help and treat the infection. Unlike other illnesses strep is not as likely to treat itself and go away eventually. Instead, it can just become worse and more serious. In fact, there have been cases where people have gotten terrible illness that have long terms effects because of strep. There is even an illness called PANDAS that can become worrisome and serious for a child who has had an encounter with strep. This is why it is so important that people understand how to treat strep, when you to see a doctor and what signs to look for in themselves and others.

As you better understand strep throat you can protect yourself and your family. For more information, contact companies like Burnsville Family Physicians.