The dangers of strep throat by - DarhsilverUpdates

In late fall and early spring, you’re
probably not too concerned about
catching colds and dealing with sore
throats. You’re busy enjoying the
changing seasons, and you should be. If
you do happen to get a sore throat that
lasts several days, you should see a
doctor immediately. Streptococcal
bacteria, the culprits that cause strep
throat, thrive during these seasons, and
the infection is easy to catch.
An Extreme Case of Strep Throat
While children may have a higher risk of
getting strep throat, adults can catch it
too. One man from Michigan found out
just how seriously the infection can be if
left untreated.
At first, Kevin went to see a doctor for
pain that he was feeling in his stomach.
One day later, he returned to the
hospital with no improvement from
medication, and doctors began to dig.
Upon performing an exploratory
surgery, they found his stomach filled
with infection and eventually pinned
strep throat as the cause.
During this process, Kevin’s organs
began failing. Doctors had to stimulate
more blood flow to his organs to keep
him alive. Unfortunately, they weren’t
able to save his hands and feet,
requiring amputations on all four of
Kevin’s limbs.
Strep Throat Complications
Yes, this case of strep throat is certainly
extreme, but the contagious infection
can cause many problems if ignored.
One harmful complication is an infection
to the kidneys.
If a strep infection goes untreated, the
bacteria will often wreak havoc on your
kidneys, causing swelling, blood in
urine, and joint pain. If the infection
goes this far, you will need to be
watched closely to ensure that the
medicine is working effectively.
In other undiagnosed cases, the strep
infection can spread to major areas
such as the skin, heart, blood, and
nervous system. Some people progress
on to such illnesses as scarlet fever,
meningitis, or even toxic shock. Again,
these extreme cases are rare, especially
if the infection is treated at the first
onset of symptoms.So What Exactly is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is an infection caused by a
contagious strain of bacteria
called Streptococcus pyogenes, or group
A strep. Each year, millions of people
develop a mild form of strep infection,
and 10–15 thousand go on to
worsened cases.
People with the strep bacteria can
spread the infection easily when they
sneeze or cough. If they have any
bacteria on their hands, they will
contaminate food, door knobs, and any
other touchable surfaces.
To prevent spreading bacteria, you
should wash your hands multiple times
throughout the day and wipe down
commonly touched surfaces often. Don’t
share food with someone who has
strep throat, and avoid touching your
face, especially your nose and eyes. If a
family member gets strep throat, give
them full rest from responsibilities and
take extra care when cleaning.
Signs of Infection
Much of the time, you can probably link
your sore throat to a cold. However, if
you experience symptoms related to
strep throat, you’ll want to see your
doctor right away. These symptoms
include:
Prolonged sore throat (several
days)
Pain when swallowing
Inflamed tonsils (a reddened
throat, perhaps with some white
areas)
Sore and swollen lymph nodes
in the neck
Fever lasting more than 48
hours
Spreading rash
In the event that you do have strep
throat, your doctor will give you
antibiotics to fight off the bacteria. You
should rest for several days and keep
away from friends and family as much
as possible. Do not go to work or return
to school until your doctor has given
permission, or you may infect others
around you.
If you don’t see improvement within
two days, call a doctor. Otherwise, you
should return to your normal self and
busy life within a matter of days.
Although you don’t see cases as
extreme as Kevin’s every day, you can
still learn from his story. Strep throat can
be potentially dangerous, causing major
complications if left untreated. Take it
seriously at the first onset of symptoms,
and you’ll be up and running again in
no time.