Strep throat Streptococcal pharyngitis streptococcal tonsillitis

1. Strep throatStreptococcal pharyngitisstreptococcal tonsillitis Presenter: Jennifer Wang (:

2. What is it? • Bacterial infection in throat and tonsils • Throat becomes inflamed and irritated • Primarily caused by : Group A streptococcal bacteria • Most common from ages 5-15 • Typically, sore throats are caused by viral infections—not bacteria.

3. Discovery • Streptococci bacteria were observed by Anton Van Leeuwenhoekin 1674 with his trusty microscope. • In 1904 Friedrich Reinhardt Strep discovered it as the cause of the throat illness, hence its name.

4. How can it be diagnosed/identified? SYMPTOMS: • Severe and sudden sore throat with no cold symptoms • red and white patches, or coating, in throat • pain and difficulty swallowing • swollen glands/lymph nodes in neck • red and enlarged tonsils • Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit • loss of appetite and nausea, headache, belly pain • Skin rash (scarlet fever)

5. Tests • Physical exam (swollen lymph nodes, presence of symptoms…) • Rapid strep test-analyzes bacteria in throat to see if strep is the cause. • Throat culture-analyzes cells in back of throat. The cells are placed in container with substances that promote strep growth. If strep bacteria do grow, the culture is positive. • Throat culture is more accurate.

6. How can you get it? O_O • Strep throat is highly contagious! • You can get it by breathing in droplets with strep bacteria in the air, usually when a person who has strep throat breathes, coughs, or sneezes. • Strep throat usually goes away in 3 to 7 days. • Doctors may suggest over the counter relief medicine. • May give antibiotics to prevent spread. • Some home remedies: Drink water, sleep, throat lozenges, herbal tea, etc. • BUT…complications may occur if infection spreads to other parts of body. 

7. Pretty pictures of strep throat yay Small red spots White tonsillar exudate

8. Sources • http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/images/0/05/Strep.jpg • http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/labs/microbiology/strep_detection/strep_test.htm • http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/tc/strep-throat-topic-overview • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcal_pharyngitis • http://www.emedicinehealth.com/strep_throat/page5_em.htm