Understanding Strep Throat: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Did you ever have an urge to itch your throat because of the pain? Or have you ever had a sore throat leading to a fever? Well, that's strep throat. A kind of bacterial disease that spreads among people of all ages. Children aged 5–15 and adults are more likely to suffer from strep throat. Within this article, we will substantially explore the risk of exposure to strep throat and also ways to treat strep throat: 

Strep throat is a kind of bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils that is spread by bacteria called Group a Streptococcus. This bacteria can make your throat feel very itchy and irritating. This causes inflammation and sore throat. 

If left untreated, strep throat can also cause serious diseases like rheumatic illness or kidney failure.

• sore throat that starts suddenly.
• Headaches
• Chill 
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sneezing and coughing 
• Trouble swallowing
• Loss of appetite
• Swollen lymph nodes 

Here we have cited a few ways in which one can get infected by strep throat, which are mentioned below:

• Eating on shared utensils.
• Drinking from a shared glass.
• Staying in a crowded area.
• The nose is not covered when someone sneezes.
• Touching places with dust can lead bacteria to reach. 
• Eating unhandled food.
• Coming into contact with a diseased person.

The interesting thing is that strep throat is manageable from home itself. By following a few managerial tips, one can easily treat strep throat on their own: 

• Take antibiotics: Antibiotics are the primary way to treat strep throat. Take medications and doses that can help kill the bacteria. We suggest you consult with health professionals and take their prescribed medicines.
  
• Stay hydrated: Take in a lot of fluid. When you drink more water, it moistures your throat, making the task of swallowing easier. Also, drinking herbal teas, soups, broth, etc. can provide relief for the throat. It will also prevent dehydration, which can fuel immunity.
• Warm water gargle: For an inflamed throat, the best thing one can do is take a warm water gargle. The process is simple: warm the water, add salt to it, and start gargling. Do this twice or three times a day. This can help the throat stay infection-free. It is advised not to swallow salt water, as it might cause dryness.
• Turn on a humidifier: Using a humidifier in the rooms can help moisturize the air. Breathing in moist air can help with providing relief to the throat. Ensure to clean it daily so that mold is not formed and the device serves its purpose. 
• Using throat lozenges: Throat lozenges are a type of medication that releases medicines after sucking. It helps provide instant relief to an irritating throat. However, use it after consulting with a doctor. Remember, using too much of it can cause side effects. 
• Eat soft food: While having soft food, eat food that is easy to chew and swallow. Eat yogurt, bananas, honey, smoothies, eggs, etc. This can make chewing easy and will help in providing nutrition as well. 

Strep throat is an infection that doesn't say goodbye easily. Anyone is likely to have it. But to avoid complications, here is how one can reduce its effect: 

• Avoid irritants: Avoid factors that cause strep throat. Stay away from smoking, dust, and infected people to avoid the risk of having it.
• Wear a mask: Wear a mask every time you go outdoors. Cover your nose every time you sneeze or cough with a handkerchief. 
• Use steam inhalers: Prefer using steam inhalers once a week to keep the bacteria out. 

Something to clear out while we conclude the blog. The main difference between strep throat and sore throat is that the former is a bacterial disease, while the latter is viral. They are both contagious in nature. However, leaving strep throat untreated might cause serious illnesses like rheumatic fever. Therefore, it's suggested to consult the doctor if the problem persists.