Strep Throat

Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat.

The infection is caused by Sreptococcus (Group A Beta Hemolytic Strep) bacteria.  It is transmitted through the saliva and/or nasal secretions.  Streptococcus bacteria takes 2-5 days to incubate in the upper respiratory tract and people with strep throat remain contagious for 1-3 days after antibiotics are started.  Children may return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

Symptoms of strep throat include:

• sore throat
• nasal congestion
• headache
• chills
• cough
• nausea
• vomiting
• fever
• rash (rash usually occurs on the chest and may feel like sand paper or appear as faintly red)
  – swollen lymph nodes

Diagnosis of strep throat requires identifying symptoms and doing a  physical exam.  The physician will examine ears, nose, throat, eyes, lymph nodes, lung and heart sounds, blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and weight.  A rapid strep test is often done in the doctors office and results take less than 10 minutes.  Occasionally a throat culture is done – this swab of the throat will take 3 days to obtain results.

Treatment:
Strep throat requires an antibiotic such as amoxicillin or azithromycin (see pharmacology page).  For the most part, antibiotics are given to prevent rare but serious sequelae – rheumatic heart disease.

If the pain and swelling in the throat or tonsils prevent swallowing then IV antibiotics and IV fluid can be administered.
At home, it is also important to take an analgesics (eg ibuprofen and acetaminophen), drink plenty of fluids, and rest.

Prevention includes hand-washing and no sharing cups or utensils.
Many people also use essential oils for general health maintenance.  Oils like Thieves provide antibacterial power.

Strep Throat antibiotics 02/01/09

Amoxicillin is a type of penicillin that is used to treat upper respiratory, urinary tract, skin, ear, and sinus bacterial infections.

Dosage: Adults 250-500mg orally every 8 hours or 875mg twice a day.

Children receive oral doses of 25-80mg/kg/day. Ear infections require higher doses: 80-90mg/kg in divided doses.

Formulations: Amoxicillin comes in capsules,tablets, chewables and liquid suspension which needs to be shaken before use and refrigerated between uses. The suspension should be good in the frig for 14 days.

Common adverse effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.

Azithromycin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract bacterial , middle ear, sinuses, skin, genitalia and pelvis.

Dosage: Adults Usually a loading dose is given on day one (e.g. 500mg) then a daily dose for the next four days (e.g. 250mg). This example is commonly known as a Z pack.. Specific dosing depends on location of infection.

Children usually receive a loading dose 10mg/kg on day one and then 5mg/kg on days 2-5. Again, specific dosage depends on location of infection.

Formulations: oral tablets and liquid suspension.

Common adverse effects diarrhea.