BY & FOR BOY MOMS EVERYWHERE

When your kid comes to you complaining that their throat hurts and they feel feverish, it’s hard to know if it’s just a cold or a sign of something worse. Moms sometimes just have to trust their gut. But if your child has a persistent sore throat accompanied by a high fever and swollen tonsils , and doesn’t want to eat because it hurts when they swallow, it’s worth getting them checked out. Most strep throat symptoms are easy to treat, and catching it early helps prevent serious complications like rheumatic fever or kidney issues. When you are sure of a diagnosis and get the proper treatment, you can breathe easier.

What is Strep throat infection?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by strep bacteria known as group A Streptococcus. Unlike a sore throat caused by a virus like the common cold that’s often accompanied by a runny nose or cough, strep symptoms tend to come on hard and strong. Hand foot and mouth disease is another viral infection that has similar symptoms to strep.

Symptoms of strep throat include tender lymph nodes, a sudden sore throat, fever, and swollen glands, and sometimes white patches or red spots in the back of the throat.

Children tend to get it more than adults, especially under the age of 5, because it spreads quickly in daycare and schools. That’s why when your child wakes up with a sore throat and a high fever, strep infection is often one of the first things we worry about.

How did he get strep throat?

We all know that schools, playgrounds, and extra-curricular activity zones are breeding grounds for germs. Strep spreads through droplets inhaled by your child when someone infected sneezes, or coughs close to them. The droplets may also land on surfaces and be ingested through shared drinks, toys, door handles or bathroom taps. Your child may have picked it up from another kid at school, a sibling, or even an adult who didn’t realize they were contagious. So if a strep infection is going around your child’s class or after-school group, stay alert for signs in your kid.

What does mono look like in the throat?

Here’s where things get tricky. Mono (mononucleosis), sometimes called the “kissing disease,” can look a lot like strep, especially when accompanied by other symptoms . Both mono and strep cause a severe soreness of the throat, swollen lymph nodes or tonsils, white patches in the throat, fever, and fatigue.

Mono lags on for weeks though with extreme tiredness and sometimes a rash after antibiotics. If your child seems unusually exhausted, or complains that their throat is sore along with other strep throat symptoms and it lasts longer than 10 days, you should see your doctor and have them do a blood test for mono.

Why does he have patches in the back of his throat?

Those white or yellowish patches can be a sign of an infection. They usually form from a build-up of pus caused by the immune system fighting off bacteria. The most common causes of patches or a white coating in the back of the throat are strep throat, tonsillitis, or sometimes mono.

It doesn’t mean that your child necessarily has strep if he has white patches but they are a cause for concern especially if accompanied by a high fever, trouble swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, and no runny nose or cough (which could indicate a viral infection instead). If you see these symptoms consult your pediatrician immediately.

What causes red patches on back of throat?

Red patches usually mean inflammation. Both viral and bacterial infections can cause inflammation. If the red spots on back of throat are accompanied by pain, fever, or pus, it could mean a bacterial infection like strep. Red patches without other symptoms could simply be from irritations like allergies, dry air, or a postnasal sinus drip. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so have your pediatrician take a look.

What if he has red bumps in his throat but it is not strep?

If you notice small, round bumps on the roof of the mouth or back of the throat it’s best to see you doctor. If along with these, your child has a mild sore throat, runny nose, and no fever, it’s more likely viral. If strep has been ruled out by testing, then your pediatrician will consider other causes such as viral infections, like the common cold or flu virus, allergies, a sinus infection, or irritated tonsils and will treat the condition accordingly.

Can sinus infection cause red spots on the throat?

Sure, a sinus infection can cause a postnasal drip, where mucus drips down the back of the throat and causes irritation or redness. It may also cause a cough, bad breath, and congestion. Sinus infections tend to build up slowly and there is usually less pain than with strep that comes on suddenly and strongly.

Does red throat always mean strep?

No, a red throat is a symptom of many things, from viral colds to allergies. Redness, on its own, is not enough to diagnose a streptococcal infection. If, however, it is accompanied by fever (101°F or higher), no cough or runny nose, pain when swallowing and swollen glands or tonsils with white patches, then your pediatrician will probably test for strep throat.

Does strep throat cause red spots on the back of the throat?

Yes, strep throat can cause tiny red spots near the back of the throat or roof of the mouth. These small dots are caused by broken blood vessels due to inflammation and are often a tell-tale sign. Your doctor may spot spots in the throat during an exam.

What are the welts of strep throat?

“Welts” or red bumps in the throat are often enlarged lymphoid tissue reacting to the infection. They sometimes appear as bumps on the back of the throat, raised red or white patches on the tonsils, or a swollen uvula. Even though they look scary, it is your child’s body fighting the infection and with treatment they usually go away quickly.

What STD also causes red bumps in the throat?

Don’t be alarmed. It’s true that certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like oral gonorrhea or herpes can cause red bumps in the throat. But these mouth diseases are extremely rare in children and typically not a concern unless there are other circumstances to be considered. If this concern ever arises, pediatricians are trained in how to handle it sensitively and take the necessary measures to protect the child.

How can we confirm he has strep throat infection?

The only way to know for sure is with a rapid strep test or a throat culture, both done by a doctor. Kids usually find these uncomfortable and may gag, squirm, or cry but it’s just a quick swab of the back of the throat so try to keep them calm and explain to them what’s going to happen.

With a rapid strep test, the results can be ready in as little as 5 to 10 minutes but if the doctor wants to be more thorough and do a throat culture it may take 1 to 2 days to get the results back.

If the test is positive, your child will usually be prescribed antibiotics, like amoxicillin or penicillin, to clear the infection. It’s important to finish all prescribed antibiotics even if they seem to be better before they finish the course because strep can recur if not completely treated.

Is strep throat contagious?

Yes, strep is highly contagious. It is a droplet infection, spread by saliva, sneezes, coughing, and touching contaminated surfaces like doorknobs, tables, playground equipment and bathroom sinks. The best first defence, according to disease control centers, is handwashing but it can still be caught through droplets in the air entering the nose, mouth, and ears. Kids spread strep fast in daycares, schools, and playgrounds.

Strep usually stops being contagious within 24 to 48 hours after antibiotic treatment begins but until then you should keep your kid at home. If strep throat goes untreated people can be contagious for up to 2 or 3 weeks.

What are the complications from Strep Throat?

Strep throat might seem like just a nasty throat, but if left untreated, it can lead to some serious health issues no parent wants to face. Rheumatic fever, causing painful and inflamed joints, or kidney inflammation are rare but real risks. That’s why it’s so important seek medical help early so that antibiotics can be administered as quickly as possible.

There is no direct link between strep bacteria and mouth cancer. Further research is needed in the area.

What’s the connection between Strep throat and Scarlet Fever?

Strep throat and scarlet fever is caused by the same bacteria called group A Streptococcal. Scarlet fever can develop in some children who have strep throat. It is causes a bright red rash to appear all over the body which usually begins on the face and neck then spreads. It is also treated with antibiotics.