Streptococcal pharyngitis is a very common and highly contagious disease of the oropharynx, which includes the back of your throat, the tongue, and the soft palate.11 million cases are diagnosed in the US each year.Strep throat can be spread by touching or coming into contact with it.In the late winter and early spring, the infections are most common.If you're worried about getting strep throat, follow a few simple steps to prevent it and learn how to avoid it.
Step 1: It's a good idea to avoid contact.
It's important to avoid contact with someone you know has strep throat.If you want to avoid contact with that person, you should not share a close environment with them or touch them.It's a good idea to avoid touching anything that a person with an infectious disease may have come into contact with.It's possible that the objects have the bacterium on them and you can transmit it to yourself.While the individual completes the first 48 hours of antibiotics, you should keep your distance.She is no longer contagious after 48 hours of treatment.According to research done by the American Academy of Family Practice, there is a chance of a second family contracting the disease in homes with one confirmed case.It's a good idea to avoid contact with someone in your family who has strep throat.If you know of someone who is sick with strep throat, make sure they stay home in the first few days.If your kids or members of your family have it, you should keep them home until you know they can't spread it to anyone else.If you have strep throat, you should not go out.You don't want to get sick at work or in public.If your child attends a daycare, you should keep them away for a few days.
Step 2: The objects should be washed.
You need to wash the object after someone with strep throat touches it.Every object that has been touched is at risk of being passed on to another person.To prevent this from happening, wash all the items a person has touched.The items include clothing, bedding, dishes, straws, silverware, and anything else that may have been contaminated through touch.Use boiling water and bleach on items to get rid of thebacteria.The objects should be replaced if you can't use the methods.If regular bleach is used, use color-safe bleach on objects that could be stripped of color.For objects that can't be washed, such as door handles and countertops, you can either use a rag soaked in bleach or an antibacterial spray.After 2 days of treatment with antibiotics, toothbrushes should be thrown away.Family members are not allowed to share toothbrushes.
Step 3: It's a good idea to avoid sharing.
Sharing may be caring in most cases, but don't allow someone in your family to share with others if they have strep throat.Don't eat from the same plate as the person with the disease.Sharing of soft objects, such as napkins, handkerchiefs, towels, bedding, or soft toys, should be discouraged.
Step 4: You need to wash your hands.
It is possible to prevent the transmission of strep throat by washing your hands frequently.It's easy to see how it may be transmitted because of how frequently people touch their faces, noses, and mouths.If you can tolerate it, wash your hands with warm water for 30 seconds.In between your fingers and around your wrists, use a good amount of soap to wash your hands.Because the protective skin barrier of the hands is damaged at a level that allows thebacteria to get into your system, longer or more aggressive hand washing has been linked with increased transmission of infections.You don't want to get rid of the layers of skin when you only wash for a short time.If you discover that you have come into contact with an ill person, wash your hands and avoid touching your mouth or nose.If that isn't available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Step 5: When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose.
You should cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, not just your hands, according to the CDC.If you don't have a tissue handy, cough or sneeze into your elbow.People with strep throat can spread germs by touching things.
Step 6: Rest from time to time.
Your body needs rest to fight infections.People in your household should get adequate rest, but don't shorten their sleep either.It's important to get enough sleep to stay strong and healthy.
Step 7: A balanced diet is what you should eat.
Foods high in vitamins and minerals can help strengthen your immune system.A diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, complexCarbohydrate, and lean proteins is what you should eat.This diet will help you stay well if you aren't feeling sick.It will help you recover if you're not feeling well.
Step 8: Take more vitamins C and D.
It is possible to add more vitamins C and D to your diet.Although there is no documented research that these vitamins prevent strep throat, they boost your immune system and help you fightbacteria that invade your body.If your immune system is strong, you may be able to make an army of antibodies against the strep to prevent you from getting sick.You should still follow all the precautions despite the increased immunity.Tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes are good sources of vitamin C.Other sources include broccoli, strawberries, and cantaloupe.Milk and juices are fortified with vitamins C and D.If you go outside into the sun, you can get your body to make vitamin D.
Step 9: Get more zinc.
The cells in your immune system are made of zinc.If you want to build up your immune system, you should eat more zine every day.It will help the cells in your immune system function.seafood, lean red meats, poultry, beans, and fortified breakfast cereals are zinc-rich foods.Every day you can take a zinc supplement.Too much zinc can affect your immune system.If you can, try to give 15 to 25 tablets a day.You should not use a supplement when you are getting zinc from your diet.
Step 10: Ingest more vitamins A and C.
Your immune system can be boosted by the production of certain cells in your body.The vitamins help fight infections.If you have a deficiency in vitamins A and C, you are more likely to get infections.Sweet potatoes, black eyed peas, broccoli, and peppers are rich in vitamins A and C.You can get vitamins and supplements with vitamins A and B in them as well.If you're an adult male or female, you should have 650 and 580 daily.
Step 11: You can learn how it's spread.
It's important to prevent strep because it is highly contagious.From shaking hands with someone who hasn't washed her hands to kissing your baby, it can be spread.An infectious person wipes her nose or mouth and touches someone or something.The bacteria can survive on dry surfaces for up to 6 months, but can only survive for a few days.The bacterium is very strong in some studies.It has survived in ice cream for 18 days and in macaroni salad for a week.The bacterium can be spread even after treatment.
Step 12: You can learn the period.
The amount of time thebacteria takes to show symptoms is between 1 and 3 days.You may expose others if you don't feel unwell or know you're sick.Without antibiotic treatment, an individual is infectious for a period of 7 to 10 days, as well as an additional week afterwards.The person is infectious for as little as 24 hours after being treated with antibiotics.
Step 13: The symptoms should be recognized.
The most common symptoms of strep throat are pain in the throat, swallowing, and a high temperature.You could also experience headaches.Younger children may experience stomach upset and vomiting.If you look closely at your throat, you may see the red and swollen tonsils with white shaggy clumps of exudates.Sometimes the same symptoms of strep throat can be seen with the addition of a non-raised, sandpaper like rash on the body.The rash isn't itchy.Children are more likely to experience stomach pain or vomiting before the rash appears.Sometimes the tonsil has an abscess that needs surgical drainage.Sometimes this can be done in your doctor's office, although it may need surgery or be treated with antibiotics.You should seek treatment if you have a cold or a sore throat.Even the untrained eye can see these.If you have a sore throat that doesn't go away for a few days, you should see your doctor to be tested for strep throat.
Step 14: Determine the cause of the disease.
You can usually guess what you have based on the white pus pockets on your tonsils, but it's usually confirmed clinically.In the past few years, rapid strep tests have made it easier for clinicians to diagnose strep throat in an office setting, even if the symptoms of the illness are not obvious.Testing is usually unnecessary.Children will be tested using a rapid antigen test, which can detect the substance in your throat within minutes.Your doctor will most likely use the rapid test to diagnose if you have a child with a case of strep throat.A throat culture takes a few days to process if it is not conclusive.There is a DNA test that can give results within 24 hours.
Step 15: If you have a sore throat, be sure to treat it.
In the US, antibiotics are used to treat strep throat.Amoxicillin is the most common antibiotic and will be prescribed by your doctor if you are allergic to it.You should take them according to your doctor's directions.You will begin to feel better within 48 hours.If not, you should seek further treatment from your healthcare provider as you may have an antibiotic resistant strain of strep bacteria.If you start to feel better, you should complete the full course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.Failure to do so can cause the remainingbacteria to become resistant to drug treatment.The condition is harder to treat and cure.
Step 16: If you get a lot of strep throat, you should consult with your doctor.
If your strep throat is difficult to treat or you're getting it frequently, talk to your doctor.If you want to have your tonsils removed, she may recommend seeing an ENT specialist.It can help children if this doesn't completely prevent the reappearance of strep throat.There are a number of signs that a severe case of strep throat may have.