During the past week we have had several students with sore throats and one confirmed case of strep throat. Below is some general information about strep throat – please consult your family doctor or the Skamania County Department of Health if you have additional questions.
The information below is from the Mayo Clinic website,
In general, signs and symptoms of strep throat include:
- Throat pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny red spots on the soft or hard palate – the area at the back of the roof of the mouth
- Swollen, tender lymph glands (nodes) in your neck
- Fever
- Headache
- Rash
- Stomach Ache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children
- Fatigue
It’s possible for you or your child to have many of these signs and symptoms, but not have strep throat. The cause of these signs and symptoms could be a viral infection or some other kind of illness. That’s why your doctor generally tests specifically for strep throat.
It’s also possible to have the bacteria that can cause strep in your throat without having a sore throat. Some people are carriers of strep, which means they can pass the bacteria on to others, but the bacteria are not currently making them sick.
***This information is not intended to substitute for professional advice and/or diagnosis. Please contact your doctor’s office with any questions or concerns about your child’s health***