Strep throat is a sore throat caused by Streptococcus bacteria. These bacteria are spread through nose and mouth droplets. It is a common illness in children. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and are not treated with antibiotics. Sometimes if your child has a sore throat, they might just need a few days of rest to help them recover. However, other times it might be a bit more serious. If the child is feeling very ill, you can use stick on fever indicators to determine their temperature and see if they need to see a doctor. Any temperature 38 degrees or over, should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. This is why your child should be tested by a doctor before determining the proper treatment. There are loads of places that you can visit if you do want to get your child looked over. However, the easiest thing to do is just call up your local doctor and they can tell you where to go.
The most important thing to remember though (other then wanting to make your child better), is that your child might affect other children, so the best thing to do is to try and take precautions if you can.
These are the precautions to take in an effort to control the spread of this illness in the school environment:
1. Watch your child for signs of a sore throat and other signs of strep, which are headache, fever, stomach ache, swollen and tender neck glands.
2. Ask your doctor to have your child tested for strep throat. If strep is found, your child should receive treatment immediately.