When people go to the doctor, a common symptom they present with is a sore throat. This is true no matter what age you are, and is especially important in children. One of the most well-known causes of this is strep throat. This is basically an infection of the throat caused by bacteria called streptococcus. If you are worried about you or a loved one getting infected, you will be happy to know that there are ways you can prevent and get rid of strep throat.
Symptoms of strep throat
- Sore throat
- Red and swollen tonsils
- White spots on the tonsils
- Sore and swollen neck glands
- Fever
- Headache
- Fatigue
Preventing infection
Like many other bacterial infections, strep is spread through coughing, sneezing and very close contact. If someone at home, at work or at your child’s school has strep throat, it is best to ensure that close contact with the person is avoided. Strep can also be spread through eating and drinking utensils. Always make sure you keep the dishes and the environment clean, and that you always wash your hands.
Get antibiotics
If you think you have strep throat you can go to the doctor who will confirm it and then give you a course of antibiotics. This will usually be for one week to ten days, and it is important for you to remember to take every dose on time, or else the bacteria will start to build resistance to the antibiotics. The doctor may then also give you additional medication to help boost your immune system and relieve the pain of your sore throat.
Soothe your throat
There are many different products out there that can make life easier and less painful if you ever develop strep throat. Here are a few:
Gargling: Gargling with salt water will help to kill the bacteria and help prevent the spread of the bacteria to other parts. You can use your ordinary salt and water at home, instead of an expensive solution.
Throat lozenges: there are some throat sweets that have an antibacterial and analgesic property, so you can get rid of the infection and relieve the pain of a sore throat.
Honey and lemon: These are sadly underrated, but they work wonders since they keep the throat moist and help with providing some relief from the pain. The best way to have them is to add some to your tea for soothing relief.
Keep hydrated
Your body needs water every day, and even more when you are sick. If you become dehydrated it will take a longer time for your body to recover, so ensure you drink plenty of water. Drinking water will also help to wash the throat and help remove infected material from the crypts in the tonsils. This means that the infection will go away more quickly and you will be up and running in no time at all.
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