Viral Strep Throat Symptoms, Treatments & Remedies

Strep throat is a bacterial infection in the tonsils that causes 10 million trips to the doctor each year. Because its symptoms are similar to that of a non-bacterial infection, a strep test is usually performed in the doctor's office to determine if the infection is truly strep. This test is quick and accurate 80 to 90 percent of the time, and once diagnosed, the patient can be properly treated.

Significance

• Though strep throat is most commonly found in children, its symptoms can vary according to their ages. Knowing what the symptoms are allows the parent to have their child treated promptly, alleviating their discomfort as quickly as possible.

Infants

• The symptoms of strep throat in infants can include fever, a poor appetite, fussiness and a drainage from the nose which may be either green or yellow in color.

Toddlers

• Symptoms of strep throat in toddlers can include poor appetite, swollen glands which results in difficulty swallowing, and fever. If they are able to talk, they may also tell you that their throat hurts.

Older Children

• In older children, the symptoms tend to be more severe. They can suffer from higher fevers, have a more severe difficulty when it comes to swallowing, and they may white patches on the back of their throats that are visible.

Treatment

• The most common form of treatment for strep throat is penicillin or a penicillin derivative such as augmentin or amoxicillin. These are generally prescribed in doses of either 250 mg, three times a day, or 500 mg, twice a day.

Remedies

• To help alleviate the pain of strep throat and possibly speed the healing process, you can gargle with warm salt water every two to three hours; this may reduce the inflammations caused by the infection. You should also drink plenty of fluids, hot or cold, to keep the throat from becoming dry and more irritated.