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Surviving "Strep"
More Than Just a Sore Throat
By Teri Brown
Common symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sore throat.
- Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Chills.
- Noticeable swelling and soreness of the lymph nodes in the neck.
- Swollen, bright red tonsils, flecked with white.
- Possible headaches or nausea.
"These are not conclusive signs," says Dr. Faust. "A bad cold or flu can cause such symptoms too, and they often occur at the same time of year: between October and April. But a strep throat usually lasts longer than a sore throat associated with the cold or flu. If the throat looks bad and lasts for more than a couple days, call your pediatrician."
Complications
Strep left untreated can cause a variety of complications. If the bacteria linger too long in your child's throat without treatment, they can cause the most common complication: a pocket of white blood cells (pus) which develop into an abscess. Clearing this abscess usually requires surgery by an ear, nose and throat doctor. According to Dr. Faust, your child's immune system makes antibodies that not only attack strep, but can also attack normal kidney and heart cells. "Possible complications also include rheumatic fever, with damage to the joints and heart valves," says Dr. Faust. "All of these complications can be life threatening."
Treatment