Strep Throat

Signs and symptoms of strep throat include sore throat, fever, large inflamed tonsils with or without white streaks, and tender nodes in the neck. Additional symptoms may include headache, nausea, or vomiting. Cough, hoarseness, loss of voice, and stuffy nose are uncharacteristic of streptococcal infection.

Strep throat may have complications if left untreated. Scarlet fever is a strep throat infection with a rash that usually first appears on the neck and then spreads. The rash resembles sunburn with goose bumps. If you suspect your child has strep throat, call your Health Care Provider to determine whether a throat culture is needed. Whenever your provider prescribes an antibiotic for your child, it is important to take the entire prescription, even if your child is feeling better.

Please contact the school and day care provider if your child has a positive throat culture for strep. Children should not return to school until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours and temperature has returned to normal.

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