Strep Throat in Adults – The Causes, Signs and Remedies

Strep throat is an infectious disease caused by streptococcal bacteria. It is transmitted from one person to another through nasal secretions, saliva, etc., of an infected person. The highly contagious places for the disease are day care centers, schools, family households, schools, military barrack, etc.

Strep Throat in Adults – Mainly Relate to Hygiene and Immunity

The bacteria such as streptococcus pyogens, staphylococcus, hemophilus influenza and nesseria are the causes for strep throat in adults. Mostly the disease affects people with an age group of 5-15 and in the old age. Lowered immune system, unhealthy lifestyle, lack of proper rest and sleep, and stress are the other reasons for this infection. Poor personal hygiene is also a reason for infection of this disease in adults. So it is very important to wash hands properly before and after the food consumption. The disease is spreading through coughing and sneezing so it is essential to cover the mouth with a tissue when sneezing and coughing and after the use, it should be disposed. Sore throat, fever, running nose, absence of cough, tender, redness on the throat, etc., are the other symptoms of strep throat in adults.

Signs of Strep Throat – Worrying Health Problems

Strep throat affects the pharynx’s mucous lining, tonsils, or in larynx. The major signs of strep throat are swelling in the throat, tonsils, lymph nodes in the neck and fever. There may also be yellow or white patches together with pus on the tonsils. Usually, the symptoms appear between 1-4 days after the incubation of the infection. Due to severe pain, swallowing becomes difficult thus some patients may suffer dehydration as well. However, it is difficult for the doctors to diagnose the strep throat by observing the symptoms because of the overlapping signs of strep throat and sore throat. Both are viral infections and exhibit more or less same symptoms. Ulcers in the mouth, muscle pain, redness in the eyes, hoarseness, cough, skin rash, loss of appetite, discomfort, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, headache, etc., are the other symptoms of strep throat. The disease can also be diagnosed through laboratory testing.

Remedies for Strep Throat – Manage at Home

You can manage strep throat at home if it is not serious and the treatment includes reducing the pain and the other symptoms. Dehydration is a common sign of strep throat and it can be managed by increasing the intake of fluid. Warm soup broth, some fluids which contain sugar, etc., can help in this regard. The home remedies for strep throat also include gargling with hot water, drinking herbal teas, taking adequate sleep and rest. In order to reduce the pain and fever, you can use ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc. However, mistreated or untreated strep throat may leads to complications such as tonsillopharyngeal cellulitis, acute rheumatic fever, kidney inflammation, ear infection, etc. Therefore, if the infection is severe, consult a doctor immediately.