DANVILLE, Pa. — Strep throat is most common in children, and Geisinger is seeing an increase in cases as we head into colder weather.
Strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils, and it's highly contagious. It tends to affect school-aged children and usually presents itself with a sore throat and fever.
"However, younger kids, the younger school-age 4 to 5 year old, sometimes they only present with a fever, headache, belly ache, vomiting," said Dr. Kathleen Noss, a pediatrician at Geisinger.
Dr. Noss says Geisinger has been seeing a lot of patients with strep throat, which is different from a regular sore throat. Sometimes children have sore throats with other viral illnesses. If you have a cough, runny nose, or congestion, Dr. Noss says it's most likely a virus, not strep throat.
"With strep, we tend to see the sore throat as the main complaint. It's severe, and it persists throughout the day. If you're seeing that again, especially with a fever, I would urge parents to talk to their pediatrician."
The best way to prevent strep throat and other illnesses is by covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and washing your hands.
"Wash their hands before they eat, and also avoiding putting their hands in their mouths or on their faces can go a long way. The other thing, too, is keeping kids home if they're sick so they're not spreading it to others."
Strep throat requires treatment and is easily cured with an antibiotic.
More information on strep throat is available from Geisinger HERE.
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