A mild sore throat without fever can be treated with warm salt water gargles, throat lozenges, and acetaminophen. A persistent sore throat requires an office visit to rule out streptococcal infections.

If fever is present with a sore throat or if the sore throat is severe, your child should be evaluated in the office. A strep test is needed. Untreated sore throats due to the strep bacteria (Group A streptococci) can cause Rheumatic Fever, a severe inflammatory disorder which can permanently harm the heart, joints, skin and brain. Antibiotics can help prevent Rheumatic Fever. So, it’s important to treat a sore throat caused by strep. Strep throat is a condition that usually does not cause respiratory symptoms such as runny nose and coughing. However, strep throat can cause ear pain.

Ear pain experienced during a strep throat infection can sometimes mimic an ear infection due to the irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX), which innervates parts of the throat, tongue, and middle ear. In cases of strep throat, inflammation and irritation in the throat can irritate this nerve, leading to referred pain in the ear even though the ear itself is not infected. This referred pain occurs because the glossopharyngeal nerve shares nerve pathways with the structures in the ear, causing the brain to perceive discomfort or pain originating from the throat as coming from the ear. Thus, while it may feel like an ear infection, the root cause is actually the strep infection in the throat. Proper treatment of the strep throat alleviates the referred ear pain.

While a definitive diagnosis of strep throat can only be made by a medical professional through a rapid strep test, there are some physical criteria that may suggest the presence of strep throat. These criteria are based on common signs and symptoms of the infection. Some of the physical criteria for strep throat may include:

1. Sore throat: Severe sore throat, often sudden in onset and causing pain or discomfort when swallowing or talking.
2. Red and swollen tonsils: Tonsils may appear red, swollen, and may have white or yellowish patches on them.
3. Swollen lymph nodes: The lymph nodes in the neck may be tender and enlarged.
4. Fever: High body temperature (usually above 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.3 degrees Celsius) accompanied by chills.
5. Headache: Some individuals with strep throat may experience head- aches or body aches.
6. Loss of appetite: Decreased desire to eat or a decreased interest in food.
7. White or yellowish spots or coating on the throat and tonsils.

It’s important to note that these physical criteria are not definitive enough to confirm a diagnosis of strep throat. Strep throat is best diagnosed with a rapid strep test or throat culture. If your child is experiencing symptoms indicative of strep throat, we recommend that you make an appointment at our office for proper evaluation and treatment.

If your child is diagnosed with strep throat, it is important to throw away your child’s toothbrush after 24 hours on the antibiotic. The bacteria can live on surfaces and can re-contaminate your child with the bacteria. Use Lysol or dilute bleach to clean the area where your child brushes her teeth. Also, wash any dishes that your child may have used in hot water.