From Patent US 6,321,120 B1Encyclopedia Entry for Strep :Strep. throat- Streptococcus pyogenes (G+ coccus).Encyclopedia Entry for Strep :Strep throat. Strep throat is most common in children between ages 5 and 15, although anyone can get it. Strep throat is spread by person-to-person contact with fluids from the nose or saliva. It commonly spreads among family or household members. Throat anatomy.Symptoms appear about 2 to 5 days after coming in contact with the strep germ. They may be mild or severe. Common symptoms include: Fever that may begin suddenly and is often the highest on the second day Chills Red, sore throat that may have white patches Pain when swallowing Swollen, tender neck glands Strep throat Other symptoms may include: General ill feeling A loss of appetite and abnormal sense of taste Headache Nausea Some strains of strep throat can lead to a scarlet fever-like rash. The rash first appears on the neck and chest. It may then spread over the body. The rash may feel rough like sandpaper. The same germ that causes strep throat may also cause symptoms of a sinus infection or an ear infection.Many other causes of sore throat may have the same symptoms. Your health care provider must do a test to diagnose strep throat and decide whether to prescribe antibiotics. A rapid strep test can be done in most provider offices. However, the test may be negative, even if strep is present. If the rapid strep test is negative and your provider still suspects that the strep bacteria is causing the sore throat, a throat swab can be tested (cultured) to see if strep grows from it. Results will take 1 to 2 days.Most sore throats are caused by viruses, not bacteria. A sore throat should be treated with antibiotics only if the strep test is positive. Antibiotics are taken to prevent rare but more serious health problems, such as rheumatic fever. Penicillin or amoxicillin are most often the first drugs to be tried. Certain other antibiotics may also work against the strep bacteria. Antibiotics should be taken for 10 days, even though symptoms are often gone within a few days. The following tips may help your sore throat feel better: Drink warm liquids, such as lemon tea or tea with honey. Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (1/2 tsp or 3 grams of salt in 1 cup or 240 milliliters water). Drink cold liquids or suck on fruit-flavored ice pops. Suck on hard candies or throat lozenges. Young children should not be given these products because they can choke on them. A cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier can moisten and soothe a dry and painful throat. Try over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen.Symptoms of strep throat most often get better in about 1 week. Untreated, strep can lead to serious complications.Complications may include: Kidney disease caused by strep A skin condition in which small, red, and scaly teardrop-shaped spots appear on the arms, legs, and middle of the body, called guttate psoriasis Abscess in the area around the tonsils Rheumatic fever Scarlet fever.Call your provider if you or your child develops the symptoms of strep throat. Also, call if symptoms do not get better within 24 to 48 hours of starting treatment.Most people with strep can spread the infection to others until they have been on antibiotics for 24 to 48 hours. They should stay home from school, daycare, or work until they have been on antibiotics for at least a day. Get a new toothbrush after 2 or 3 days, but before finishing the antibiotics. Otherwise, the bacteria can live on the toothbrush and reinfect you when the antibiotics are done. Also, keep your family's toothbrushes and utensils separate, unless they have been washed. If repeated cases of strep still occur in a family, you might check to see if someone is a strep carrier. Carriers have strep in their throats, but the bacteria do not make them sick. Sometimes, treating them can prevent others from getting strep throat.Pharyngitis - streptococcal; Streptococcal pharyngitis; Tonsillitis - strep; Sore throat strep.Throat anatomy Throat anatomy Strep throat Strep throat.Ebell MH. Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis. Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(12):976-977. PMID: 25162166 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25162166. Flores AR, Caserta MT. Pharyngitis.Encyclopedia Entry for Strep :Streptococcal screen. The test requires a throat swab. The swab is tested to identify group A streptococcus. It takes about 7 minutes to get the results.There is no special preparation. Tell your health care provider if you are taking antibiotics, or have recently taken them.The back of your throat will be swabbed in the area of your tonsils. This may make you gag.Your provider may recommend this test if you have signs of strep throat, which include: Fever Sore throat Tender and swollen glands at the front of your neck White or yellow spots on your tonsils.A negative strep screen most often means group A streptococcus is not present. It is unlikely that you have strep throat. If your provider still thinks that you may have strep throat, a throat culture will be done in children and adolescents.A positive strep screen most often means group A streptococcus is present, and confirms that you have strep throat. Sometimes, the test may be positive even if you do not have strep. This is called a false-positive result.There are no risks.This test screens for the group A streptococcus bacteria only. It will not detect other causes of sore throat.Rapid strep test.Throat anatomy Throat anatomy Throat swabs Throat swabs.Flores AR, Caserta MT. Pharyngitis.Encyclopedia Entry for Strep :Strep Throat: Strep throat is caused by the streptococcus bacteria. Several million cases of strep throat occur every year. Symptoms include a sore throat, fever, headache, fatigue, and nausea.Encyclopedia Entry for Strep :Streptococcus. May cause : Anorexia nervosaADHDObsessive compulsive disorderTourette syndromeColorectal cancerInformation from Marcello Allegretti.