No parent wants their child to get strep throat, but unfortunately, it is one of the most common causes of a sore throat. However, according to the pediatricians at Leitchfield Pediatric Clinic PSC in Kentucky, unlike your garden-variety sore throat, strep will often produce additional symptoms around three days after the infection has set in. These could include red and white patches in the throat, difficulty swallowing, headaches, loss of appetite, and a rash.

If you notice any of the above signs after your child complains of a sore throat, it is important to have them seen by a pediatrician. Strep throat is a bacterial infection, which means antibiotics are required to treat it. It is also highly contagious and can lead to other complications, such as scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, blood infections, and kidney disease, when left untreated.

To determine if your child does indeed have strep throat, the doctor will need to perform a rapid stress test. This is quick and simple process that requires swabbing the fluids in the back of the throat. If it comes back positive, you’ll be given an immediate antibiotic prescription to give your child for at least 10 days. If it is negative, the doctor may send the sample to a lab for a throat culture, and you should receive the results in a few days.

When you get your child back home, give them plenty of liquids to combat dehydration, but steer clear of acidic beverages like orange juice or lemonade, which could irritate their throat. Also, try to see they get plenty of rest. Over the next day or two, their fever should dissipate, and the other symptoms should begin disappearing shortly after that. Even though they will start to feel better, it is important they finish the full antibiotic prescription. Otherwise, the bacteria in their throat could continue to linger, and the symptoms might return before long.

Don’t hesitate to bring your child to a pediatrician if you believe they might have strep throat. The pros in this situation far outweigh the cons. To schedule an appointment with Leitchfield Pediatric Clinic PSC today, call (270) 259-5641, or stop by to see their on-call doctors for emergency concerns. For more information about their pediatric care services, you can also visit their website.