Strep Throat

I am sure most of us have gotten strep throat at some point in our lives. Strep throat is commonly seen in younger children, ages ranging from 5 to 15. This infection is caused by streptococcus pyogenes, a gram positive coccus. There are multiple virulence factors allowing the bacteria to escape being destroyed by the immune system. Even with all these virulence factors, most individuals start feeling better after a week of taking antibiotics. Recent studies have started to show that strep throat may not be as easy to treat.

Penicillin is typically used to treat strep throat, getting children feeling better within a few days. New studies are raising concern that this bacteria is started to become resistant to penicillin and other beta lactam antibiotics. If this bacteria becomes fully resistant, there will be an extreme impact on tons of children. Certain tests show that strains have decreased susceptibility to beta lactam antibiotics, leading professional to believe antibiotics will become less effective in the future. One day these antibiotics may even be completely ineffective. Physicians would have to prescribe the next best option and often times the second best isn’t nearly as effective as the first. Taking antibiotics incorrectly or when not needed are reasons different bacterias are able to mutate and become resistant. You must take your medications at the right dose and for the full duration your physician has prescribed.

How can you tell if you have a sore throat, strep throat or a stomach bug? It is very difficult to determine if you have a sore throat or strep throat. You are less likely to have a fever with a sore throat, but you should go to your healthcare provider for the best course of treatment. A fever is present when you have strep throat because the immune system has found the invader and is trying to kill it. Having a fever usually indicates the invader is still present in your system and can be transmitted to others. This is why people are strongly encouraged to stay home when they have a fever, especially in schools. Children easily spread infections to each other either by direct contact or through fomites. I even notice this in college as students all appear to get sick around the same time. The immune system usually fights of an infection within a few days, but having a fever for more than five days may mean you need additional testing. People today may believe their immune system can fight off the illness without any help from antibiotics or antivirals. If strep throat, streptococcus pyogenes, continues to mutate and become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, someone who doesn’t seek treatment may end up with a chronic infection.