Can you go outside if you have angina? Do the symptoms of strep throat go away after the first dose of antibiotics? Can this infection infect babies? We dispel the myths surrounding bacterial angina in children. Treatment will be more effective as a result of this knowledge.
Purulent angina, also known as bacterial tonsillitis in children and adolescents, is a very common infection. It is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, also known as group A streptococci. As a result, it is also known as strep throat. There are many myths surrounding it because it is a common disease that can be difficult to treat. Here are a few examples.
Angina does not need to be treated with antibiotics
Bacterial angina should be treated with antibiotics, mainly penicillins, to reduce the infection in the short term. It is important to take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, as premature discontinuation increases bacterial resistance and the risk of re-infection and complications.
Very young children do not get strep throat
Young children and infants can get strep throat, but it is rare. Symptoms include irritability, crying, refusing to eat, fever, and runny nose. Children and adolescents aged 5-15 years are most often affected, accounting for up to 30% of acute throat infections.
White patches on the tonsils always mean strep throat
White patches on the tonsils are a characteristic symptom of angina, but they may indicate other diseases. If a child or teenager develops white patches on the tonsils, along with a severe sore throat, fever, and weakness, it is highly likely that streptococci are to blame. A test for Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci) in a swab from the throat and tonsils is recommended.
A positive strep test requires antibiotics
A positive strep test does not mean the child needs to take antibiotics. Many children are carriers of strep and will test positive even when they are asymptomatic. The most effective diagnostic test is culture, which involves collecting bacteria and growing colonies in the laboratory. However, this method requires time (up to 3 days) which is not available when it is necessary to implement treatment quickly.
There is a vaccine against strep throat
There is no vaccine against type A streptococci, a neglected group of bacteria, but there is a vaccine against other types of strep (pneumococcal vaccine) which is compulsory for children.
You don’t get angina in the summer
Strep throat is most common between winter and spring, but can develop at any time of the year due to sudden changes in temperature, such as cold drinks, ice cream, bathing in cold water, and moving from an air-conditioned room to the outside.
You can go outside with strep throat
The most important details are that a child during angina treatment should stay at home, rest and drink plenty of fluids, and go for a short walk when they are no longer bothered by fever, weakness or chills. If it is sunny, it is even worth doing so, as the sun releases vitamin D which improves immunity.
Improvement should occur after just one dose of antibiotic
The symptoms of angina do not disappear immediately after the administration of an antibiotic, so the patient is given antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. If there is no improvement after 2-3 days of treatment, the patient should go back to the doctor. If symptoms worsen despite treatment, an appointment should be made as soon as possible.
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