What is Strep Throat?
A more severe version of sore throat, strep throat is a bacterial infection of the tonsils and the throat. Strep throat is caused by a Group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria. This bacterium is most active in kids between 5-15 years old but everyone can still be infected.

Avoiding the Virus
Everybody can catch the Strep bacterium, especially if they had close encounters on those who already have the virus. Those who had their tonsils removed can still be infected. The virus can be prevented from spreading by your mouth blocking with a handkerchief while coughing especially when you are in front of someone, they should also stay home and take proper medications to decrease the chances of infecting others.

Symptoms
Pain while swallowing, inflamed tonsils, white or yellow spots present in the throat and tonsils, dark red spots at the back part of the mouth near the throat, severe sore throat without sneezing or coughing, and fever over 38.3 °C are the most common symptoms on having strep throat. The symptoms usually happen within 2 to 5 days after catching the virus.

Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever was caused by rare cases of strep throat. Red rashes that feel like sandpaper would be seen if someone has this disease. This disease develops skin rashes that can spread throughout the whole body. Scarlet fever is not that dangerous and can be cured by merely using antibiotics.

Other Infections
Strep throat usually lasts between 3 to 7 days even without medication; however, it could last longer when the cause of the disease is an irritant or an allergy to your body. Further complications of strep throat may happen if proper medication could not be met. It can spread to a part of your ear or have abscess near your tonsils. It can also affect the immune system and the kidney.

Rheumatic Fever
This disease causes symptoms particularly similar to arthritis and heart problems. It also affects the joints, skin, brain, tissues and other organs of the body. Symptoms of having Rheumatic Fever are shortness of breath, weakness of the body, pain of the joints, red rashes, and uncontrolled jerking movements of the arms and legs. Damages done by the Rheumatic Fever are only temporary.

Persons to See
If severe symptoms of strep throat are present in one’s body, he/she should call for a Pediatrician, a Family doctor, a Nurse practitioner, a Physician assistant, an Internist, or an Otolaryngologist. An Otolaryngologist is an ear, throat, and nose specialist. They are ones who should be called for proper medications.

Home Treatments
The most usual treatment for strep throat is antibiotic, but there are also home remedies that can help cure strep throat. Drinking fluids like Herbal tea helps to fight dehydration for your body, which was caused by high fever. Avoid drinking caffeine because it may also lead to water loss. Getting extra sleep also helps your body to recover from the disease.

These are the tests that a doctor may use to confirm if someone has a strep throat:

Rapid Strep Test
The doctor gathers cells from the back of your throat using cotton. This test analyzes the cells from the cotton checking if the bacteria that are found in the patient’s throat are Streptococcus bacteria which causes the sore throat.

Throat Culture
This test is almost the same with Rapid Strep Test, the cotton will then be placed in a container wherein substances that promotes the growth of the Streptococcus bacteria. If it grows, the test would be positive.