How Do You Get E. Coli – And How to Prevent It

Health Beat: Is It Strep Throat?

Sore throats can have a variety of causes. Viruses, bacteria, allergens, environmental irritants (such as cigarette smoke), chronic postnasal drip and fungi can all cause that unpleasant, scratchy and sometimes painful condition known as a sore throat. While many sore throats will heal without treatment, some throat infections -- including strep throat -- may need antibiotic treatment.

How you get strep throat

Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria (called "group A strep"). Group A strep bacteria can live in a person's nose and throat. The bacteria are spread through contact with droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze. If you drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as the sick person, you could also become ill. It is also possible to get strep throat from contact with sores from group A strep skin infections.

Common symptoms of strep throat

* Sore throat, usually starting quickly

* Severe pain when swallowing

* A fever (101° F or above)

* Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

* Tiny red spots (petechiae) on the soft or hard palate -- the area at the back of the roof of the mouth

* Headache

* Nausea and/or vomiting

* Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

* Body aches

* Rash

Is it strep? A simple test gives fast results

A strep test (a quick swab of the throat) can quickly show if group A strep bacteria are causing a sore throat. A test is needed to tell if you have strep throat; just looking at your throat is not enough to make a diagnosis. If the test is positive, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics. If the strep test is negative, but your doctor still strongly suspects you have this infection, a culture of your throat (another sample) may be taken as another way to test for the bacteria.

Antibiotics get you well fast

The strep test results will help the doctor decide if you need antibiotics. Antibiotics reduce the length of time you're sick and reduce your symptoms. Antibiotic treatment may also prevent the spread of infection to friends and family members. They can also prevent complications such as tonsil and sinus infections, and, although rare in the U.S., acute rheumatic fever (an inflammatory disease that can affect the heart, joints, skin and brain).

Once treatment begins, you should start feeling better in just a day or two. Call your doctor if you don't feel better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours. People with strep throat should stay home from work, school or daycare until they have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours. Be sure to finish the entire prescription, even when you start feeling better before the medicine is all gone.

Preventing infection: Wash those hands

The best way to keep from getting strep throat is to wash your hands often and avoid sharing eating utensils, like forks or cups. It is especially important for anyone with a sore throat to wash their hands often and cover coughs and sneezes. There is no vaccine to prevent strep throat.

Why White Spots On Your Tonsils Should Terrify You

Those mysterious white spots appearing on your tonsils can trigger immediate concern, and rightfully so. While they might seem like a minor inconvenience, these patches often signal your body's battle against various infections and conditions that require attention. Understanding what these white formations mean could be the difference between quick recovery and prolonged illness.

The appearance of white spots on tonsils typically indicates the presence of tonsil exudate, a whitish fluid that accumulates when your tonsils work overtime to fight off invading bacteria or viruses. This natural defense mechanism often comes with accompanying symptoms like throat pain, swollen glands, fever, and general fatigue that can leave you feeling miserable for days or weeks.

1. Tonsillitis brings painful inflammation

Tonsillitis occurs when your tonsils become inflamed due to bacterial or viral infections, including common cold viruses. The condition transforms your normally pink tonsils into red, swollen masses that may develop white or yellow patches across their surface. The inflammation creates a perfect environment for bacteria to multiply, leading to those telltale white spots.

Beyond the visible white patches, tonsillitis typically produces intense throat pain that makes swallowing difficult, along with fever and general malaise. The condition affects both children and adults, though younger individuals tend to experience more severe symptoms. Left untreated, tonsillitis can lead to complications including abscess formation and the spread of infection to surrounding tissues.

2. Strep throat spreads rapidly through communities

Strep throat, caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, represents one of the most contagious causes of white spots on tonsils. This bacterial infection strikes suddenly, often beginning with mild throat discomfort that quickly escalates into severe pain accompanied by fever and distinctive white patches on swollen tonsils.

The highly contagious nature of strep throat makes it particularly problematic in schools, offices, and households. The bacteria spread through respiratory droplets when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or even talk. Without proper antibiotic treatment, strep throat remains contagious for weeks, potentially affecting entire communities. The infection can also lead to serious complications including rheumatic fever and kidney problems if left untreated.

3. Mononucleosis causes prolonged exhaustion

Mononucleosis, commonly known as mono or the kissing disease, stems from the Epstein-Barr virus and creates distinctive white spots on tonsils alongside debilitating fatigue. This viral infection spreads through saliva contact, making it common among teenagers and young adults who share drinks, utensils, or engage in close contact.

The white patches associated with mono often appear more extensive than those seen with bacterial infections, sometimes covering large portions of the tonsils. The accompanying symptoms include extreme fatigue that can last for months, swollen lymph nodes throughout the body, and sometimes a characteristic skin rash. Unlike bacterial infections, mono cannot be treated with antibiotics, requiring supportive care and extended rest periods.

4. Tonsil stones create persistent bad breath

Tonsil stones present a different type of white spot formation that results from debris accumulation rather than infection. These small, hard calcium deposits form when food particles, dead cells, and bacteria become trapped in the natural crevices of your tonsils, creating white or yellowish lumps.

While tonsil stones rarely cause serious health problems, they can produce persistent bad breath that affects social interactions and self-confidence. The stones may also create a sensation of something stuck in your throat, leading to frequent throat clearing or coughing. Some individuals can remove visible stones using cotton swabs or water irrigation, though persistent problems may require professional intervention.

Recognizing when medical attention becomes necessary

Several warning signs indicate the need for immediate medical evaluation when white spots appear on your tonsils. High fever, severe difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, or rapidly worsening symptoms all warrant urgent care. Additionally, white spots accompanied by a rash, joint pain, or extreme fatigue should prompt medical consultation.

Healthcare providers can perform rapid tests to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections, ensuring appropriate treatment. Bacterial infections like strep throat respond well to antibiotics, while viral conditions require supportive care and time for recovery.

The treatment approach depends entirely on the underlying cause. Bacterial infections typically improve within 24 to 48 hours of starting antibiotics, while viral infections may take one to two weeks to resolve completely. Tonsil stones often disappear on their own but may require removal if they cause persistent discomfort.

Preventing white spots on tonsils involves maintaining good hygiene practices, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and supporting your immune system through adequate sleep, nutrition, and stress management. Regular hand washing remains one of the most effective prevention strategies.

Signs Of Strep Throat Vs. Sore Throats - Altoona Mirror

Having strep throat does mean having a sore throat. But not every sore throat is strep throat. People often get sore throats due to a virus, but strep is different because it's caused by a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils.

It gets its name from the type of bacteria that causes it: group A Streptococcus, or group A strep.

Anyone can get strep throat, but it's more common in children, especially those between 5 and 15 years old. And it's more prevalent during the colder months when people spend more time together indoors and in close contact, especially in schools and daycare centers.

While it can look different from person to person, recognizing strep is key for early diagnosis and treatment. Strep will not go away on its own.

But with proper treatment, it should resolve in seven to 10 days. If you or your child have been exposed to strep throat, it can take two to five days for symptoms to develop.

While strep throat is a mild illness in most cases, it can be very painful. A severe and persistent sore throat that comes on suddenly and looks red is a telltale sign of strep.

If you have a cough, runny nose and congestion, a virus or allergies are likely causing the discomfort — not strep. Symptoms of strep do not include those of the common cold.

Strep throat is highly contagious and spreads through close contact with others. When an infected person coughs, sneezes or even talks, tiny respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria are released into the air. You can be infected if you breathe in those droplets — or transfer them to your nose or mouth by kissing, sharing cups or utensils or eating from the same plate as a person who's infected.

Even if you don't exhibit any symptoms, you can still be contagious.

However, people who are sick with strep are more contagious than those who don't have any symptoms.

Fortunately, once you've been treated with antibiotics for 24 to 48 hours, you're no longer contagious.

Because strep throat is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are the standard treatment to kill the bacteria causing it, which eases symptoms, controls spread and prevents complications.

Typically, doctors prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin in pill or liquid form for 10 days, but you should start to feel better after a day or two on the antibiotics.

If repeated cases of strep throat occur in your family, talk to your provider. Someone in the household could be a strep carrier, where the bacteria lives in their throat, but it's not making them sick. Treating it may prevent repeated cases.

Dr. Kevin Ly works at Geisinger family medicine in Elysburg.

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