Strep Throat

My kid has a sore throat. Could it be strep?

You'll need to visit the doctor to be sure, but there are some clues. Tonsils that are swollen, bright red, and flecked with white are the clearest and most common indication of infection by the group A Streptococcus bacteria. A fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, chills, and noticeable swelling and soreness of the glands just under the jaw are also warning signs.

Your child may have difficulty swallowing and complain of a sore throat and a headache. He may also have a stomach ache and vomiting. Symptoms may be mild or severe. (By the way, your child's sore throat is less likely to be strep if he has cold symptoms, such as a runny nose.)

While most common in late fall, winter, and early spring — and in children 5 to 15 years old — strep can show up at any time and at any age.

Does my child need to see a doctor?

Yes, make an appointment if you think your child may have strep. Strep throat is caused by bacteria, so it's treatable with antibiotics.

When allowed to linger, strep is not only painful but it can cause other problems, like a throat abscess (a pocket of white blood cells, or pus, that may require surgical removal) or scarlet fever (some strains of strep can produce toxins that cause the scarlet fever rash).

When a child has strep, his immune system makes antibodies that can also attack normal kidney and heart cells. One result may be rheumatic fever, which can cause painful joints and damage to the valves of the heart. Rheumatic fever isn't a killer, but kids who've had it can suffer heart problems throughout their adult lives.

If your child's doctor suspects strep, she'll take a throat culture to be sure. This quick test is easy and painless. Your toddler opens up wide, the doctor swabs the back of the throat.

The doctor can order a "rapid antigen test" to detect bacteria in minutes. But a negative on this speedy test isn't conclusive, so she may want to send the test to the lab for a culture. These results can take a day or two.

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