Strep Throat

Signs and Symptoms

Infants below age of one year:

1. Low fever of 100 to 101 degrees.

2. Thick mucus from nose.

Children ages one to three:

1. Mild sore throat.

2. Swollen glands in throat.

3. Low fever of 100 to 101 degrees.

4. Loss of appetite.

5. Irritability.

Older children and adults:

1. Sudden, severe sore throat.

2. Swollen glands in throat.

3. High fever of 102 degrees or higher.

4. White coating on tonsils.

What to do now

1. Make sure your child gets rest, drink lots of liquids, and eat foods that won’t irritate a raw throat.

2. For children of age three and more, gargling with warm salt water can ease discomfort.

3. Give your child acetaminophen for pain relief. (Never give aspirin to a child under 12 who has chicken pox, flu, or any other illness you suspect of being caused by a virus).

4. If antibiotics are prescribed, take them all, even after symptoms have disappeared.

When to call a doctor

1. If a child or an adult has the symptoms listed.

2. A sore throat that lasts 48 hours or longer.

How to prevent it

1. Wash your and your child’s hands and face with soap and warm water frequently, especially after being in public places. Stay away from people when they are coughing and sneezing.

2. To prevent your sick child from infecting others, wait until he or she has been on antibiotics for 48 hours before sending him or her to school.