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Strep Throat
Strep Throat
Strep Throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection in the throat and the
tonsils. The throat gets irritated and inflamed, causing a sudden, severe sore throat. Strep throat is caused by streptococcal (strep) bacteria.Streptococcal pharyngitis, streptococcal tonsillitis, or streptococcal sore throat (known colloquially as strep throat) is a type of pharyngitis caused by a group A streptococcal infection. It affects the pharynx including the tonsils and possibly the larynx. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes. It is the cause of 37% of sore throats among children.Strep throat is a contagious infection, spread through close contact with an infected individual.
Sources
A sore throat can have many causes including: Common viruses, and even the viruses that cause mononucleosis (mono) and the flu, can cause a sore throat. Some viruses can also produce blisters in the mouth and throat ("aphthous stomatitis"). Breathing through the mouth can produce throat dryness and soreness. Sinus drainage (post nasal drip) may cause a sore throat. A sore throat can also be caused by bacteria. The two most common bacteria to cause a sore throat are Streptococcus (which causes strep throat) and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. Arcanobacterium causes sore throats mainly in young adults and is sometimes associated with a fine red rash. Sore throat appearing after treatment with antibiotics, chemotherapy, or other immunecompromising medications may be due to Candida, commonly known as "thrush. A sore throat lasting for more than two weeks can be a sign of a serious illness, such as throat cancer or AIDS.
Transmission
You can get strep throat by direct contact with saliva
or fluids from the nose from an infected person. Most people do not get group A strep infections from casual contact with others. A crowded environment like a dormitory, school, or nursing home, however, can make it easier for the bacteria to spread. There have also been reports of contaminated food, especially milk and milk products, causing infection
Abdominal pain
Myalgia (muscle pain) Scarlatiniform rash or palatal petechiae
Treatment
Self-Care and Home Remedies like: Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration Throat lozenges can sometimes provide temporary relief for a minor sore throat Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications. Get extra sleep. Herbal teas
Medication
Penicillin
Cephalosporins Macrolides
Prevention
The best preventive measure against strep throat involves
instituting measures to minimize the spread of the illness to others. There is currently no vaccine available to prevent strep throat. Keep eating utensils, dishes, and drinking glasses separate from any infected person. Do not to share foods and drinks, napkins, handkerchiefs, or towels because infection may spread by these objects of personal use. Cover the mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, this helps prevent the release of infected airborne droplets. Washing the hands frequently will help both the infected person and the uninfected people prevent the bacteria spreading to others
Pathophysiology
the capsuleStreptococci are a large group of gram-
positive, nonmotile, nonspore-forming cocci about 0.5-1.2 m in size. They often grow in pairs or chains and are oxidase- and catalase-negative. S pyogenes tends to colonize the upper respiratory tract and is highly virulent as it overcomes the host defense system. The most common forms of S pyogenes disease include respiratory and skin infections, with different strains usually responsible for each form.
chemically diverse. The antigenic components of the cell are the virulence factors. The extracellular components responsible for the disease process include invasins and exotoxins. The outermost capsule is composed of hyaluronic acid, which has a chemical structure resembling host connective tissue, allowing the bacterium to escape recognition by the host as an offending agent. Thus, the bacterium escapes phagocytosis by neutrophils or macrophages, allowing it to colonize. Lipoteichoic acid and M proteins located on the cell membrane traverse through the cell wall and project outsid.