ABC6: Central Ohio Doctors And Clinics See Strep Throat Cases On Rise
Strep throat is causing serious problems for families throughout central Ohio.
It is causing many to miss work, school, and once it is in a household, it can easily get passed around to adults and children.
"It would be spread through saliva so not sharing cups and utensils, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze," said Brian Fornadel, OhioHealth Primary Care Physician to ABC6.
Doctors suggest washing hands and avoid contact after sneezing or coughing. A flu shot won't protect you from strep throat. Doctor Fornadel says there aren't a certain amount of days you should wait before seeing a doctor. If you have a concern, get checked out. With a simple strep test, doctors are able to see what is going on, and take appropriate action and get a treatment plan.
"The throat typically is quite red. A lot of times the tonsils will be swollen. And most often with true strep, you will see some white patches in the back of the throat," Dr. Fornadel told ABC6. "Typically strep doesn't come with a lot of coughing or runny nose, people with sore throat, fever, no cough or runny nose are more likely to have it," Dr. Fornadel said to reporter Lu Ann Stoia.
According to the CDC:
The most common symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sore throat - usually starts quickly and can cause pain when swallowing
- A fever
- Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny, red spots (petechiae) on the roof of the mouth (the soft or hard palate)
- Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck
Other symptoms may include headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash known as scarlet fever
Cough, runny nose, hoarseness (changes in your voice that make it sound breathy, raspy, or strained), and conjunctivitis are not symptoms of strep throat and suggest that a virus is the cause of the illness.
The strep test results will help your healthcare professional decide if you need antibiotics, which can:
- Decrease the length of time you're sick
- Reduce your symptoms
- Help prevent the spread of infection to others
- Prevent more serious complications, such as tonsil and sinus infections, and acute rheumatic fever (a rare inflammatory disease that can affect the heart, joints, skin, and brain)
You should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call your healthcare professional if you don't feel better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours. People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours so they don't spread the infection to others.
Be sure to finish the entire prescription, even when you start feeling better, unless your healthcare professional tells you to stop taking the medicine.
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