Do you have a toddler who often has a sore throat? Are you looking for ways to avoid infections like strep throat in your Toddler? Strep throat in toddlers’ symptoms is very similar to other sore throat problems. It is essential to know the type of infection in your child’s throat before starting the treatment.
Sore throat is a common illness in toddlers and children that is usually caused by viral infection. The viral sore throat goes on its own within few days. But if the sore throat is caused by streptococcal infection-a bacterial infection, it needs proper treatment to avoid complications.
How Can I Differentiate Between Viral Sore Throat and Strep Throat?
The viral sore throat’s symptoms subside within three days with a gargle. The child had a low-grade fever in case of viral infection that is usually treated with antipyretic medicines.
Whereas In strep throat, the child has a high-grade fever that is not coming down even after three days. Strep throat needs antibiotics for its treatment.
If left untreated, strep throat may cause inflammation of the kidneys and rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a condition in which a patient suffers from painful joints, specific types of rashes, and heart valve damage.
What are the Symptoms of Strep Throat?
Strep throat symptoms are somewhat similar to other throat issues. But you can identify strep throat by the following symptoms;
- Painful throat that is occurring again and again even after gargles
- Swelling in the throat
- Pain while swallowing food
- Red and swollen tonsils with white pus spots on them
- Redness on the soft and hard palate inside the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes in your throat
- High-grade fever
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting in strep throat in toddlers under 2
- Painful joints and body aches
How to Diagnose Strep throat?
Usually, doctors diagnose strep throat through physical examination and symptoms. The second option is a rapid strep test that involves swabbing your throat. And conducting a test on the swab. The test quickly shows if group A strep is causing the infection.
The culture test to identify the bacteria in a more specific way. If the result is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics. If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat due to symptoms, the doctor can take a throat culture swab.
If it tested positive for strep throat, your doctor prescribes antibiotics that are effective for that infection.
Now the question is, what If it tested negative for strep throat? What else could it be? In this case, you might have a viral infection, or any other bacterial infection for that doctor prescribes broad-spectrum antibiotics.
What is the Treatment For Strep Throat?
Strep throat is treated with antibiotics. Usually, doctors prescribe you a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against most bacteria. But if antibiotics are not working against strep throat, it might be due to the resistance of bacteria against that specific type of antibiotic.
In strep throat, if fever persists after three days of using antibiotics in your Toddler, you must consult the child specialist for further treatment.
Strep throat treatment without antibiotics is not possible. It will cause damage to your child’s body. It is essential to take antibiotics that are effective against strep throat infection and complete the antibiotics course according to the doctor’s advice.
How does Strep Throat Spread?
Strep throat spreads by close contact with people having cough and strep infection. The respiratory droplets while sneezing and coughing come out of the patient’s mouth and nose and affect the other people around them. Usually, strep throat is caught by young children. Touching something like tissue paper, glass, water bottle, etc., that has infected droplets and touching your mouth and nose afterward with your hands may also spread the infection.
What are the Risk Factors of Strep Throat?
Young children and toddlers usually catch strep throat. At the specific time of the year, like the start of spring or during winters, the chances of getting this infection are more.
How to Prevent Strep throat in your Toddler?
You can avoid strep throat infection affecting your child by keeping your child away from people and other children having coughs and sneezing. Ensure to wash your hands before touching your child, before preparing food for your child, and before feeding them.
Try to cover your Toddler’s face with a mask in a crowd to avoid contact with the infection.
And if your child has strep throat or sore throat, ask your child to cover the mouth while sneezing and coughing with the tissue paper or own elbow.
Don’t share your child’s personal things with others. For example, avoid sharing water bottles, spoons, and plates. Use a clean handkerchief or tissue paper for your child’s face and mouth.
Strep throat is a common problem in toddlers and children, but it can become serious if not treated properly. It is essential to keep an eye on your toddlers’ symptoms when they are not feeling well! Prevention is always better than cure.
