Strep throat is an infection of the back of the throat including the tonsils caused by group A streptococcus.

Signs and symptoms:

Symptoms typically begin one to three days after exposure and last seven to ten days.

• A sore throat
• Fever
• Tonsillar exudates
• Large cervical lymph nodes
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle pain
• Scarlatiniform rash
• Palatal petechiae

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Cause:

The strep throat is caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS or S. pyogenes).
group A beta-hemolytic streptococci and fusobacterium may also cause pharyngitis.

Diagnosis:

• The absence of a cough
• Swollen and tender cervical lymph nodes
• Temperature >38.0 °C (100.4 °F)
• Tonsillar exudate or swelling
• Age less than 15 (a point is subtracted if age >44)

Laboratory testing:

• A throat culture is a diagnostic test.
• A positive throat culture or RADT in association with symptoms establishes a positive diagnosis in those in which the diagnosis is in doubt.

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Prevention:

Tonsillectomy

Treatment:

1. Pain medication

   1.  NSAIDs
   2. Paracetamol
   3. Viscous lidocaine
   4. Steroids (not recommended)
   5. Aspirin

2. Antibiotics

   1. Penicillin V (Antibiotic of choice)
   2. Amoxicillin
   3. Benzathine penicillin G

3. Erythromycin (If the patient is allergic to penicillin)

Watch World’s Best Lecture on Strep throat – Made For Medical

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