BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Strep throat is a common illness this time of year, but a local doctor, after seeing severe cases last year, said parents should stay vigilant.
A sore throat and fever often are signs of a bacteria called group A Streptococcus, known to cause strep throat.
"Kids with strep, they have a sore throat, they may have fever, but they typically do not have respiratory symptoms."Dr. Tibi Villalobos, chief of the infectious diseases section at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital
"Kids with strep, they have a sore throat, they may have fever, but they typically do not have respiratory symptoms,” said Dr. Tibi Villalobos, chief of the infectious diseases section at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital.
Villalobos said strep throat can be identified by white dots on the tonsils and a very red tongue referred to as “strawberry tongue.”
But group A strep also can cause scarlet fever, she said.
“Strep that is causing the infection can produce a toxin that causes a rash and the rash can be very distinctive, and it looks like sandpaper,” Villalobos said.
“It may start in your flexors and face, so you can see it around the mouth, you can see it on their armpits, you can see it on the groin.”
The strep bacteria is treatable with medication, such as amoxicillin, but it can cause other more severe infections. So Villalobos said it’s important to get tested and take the full dosage of medication.
A patient is no longer considered contagious 24 hours after starting treatment.
Flu also on the rise
Villalobos also said flu cases also are on the rise among children and it can be difficult to tell the difference between the flu and strep.
"A kid who has congestion, runny nose and cough is less likely to have group A strep. A kid, if they have headache, belly pain, and a sore throat, and we tell the parents to look at the throat and see that the throat is red and they could have trouble and pain swallowing, that is probably group A strep.”Dr. Tibi Villalobos, chief of the infectious diseases section at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital
"A kid who has congestion, runny nose and cough is less likely to have group A strep," she said.
“A kid, if they have headache, belly pain, and a sore throat, and we tell the parents to look at the throat and see that the throat is red and they could have trouble and pain swallowing, that is probably group A strep.”
The doctor concluded by saying it’s important for adults and children to be vigilant about hand washing, not to share food and drinks with others, and to wear a mask need be.
