Across the school district, in the community and here at Symmes we have seen a recent increase in strep throat infections. Mrs. Ferron, our school nurse would like you to know how the illness is spread, signs and symptoms of strep throat and what to do if your child exhibits these symptoms. We continuously remind the children on proper cough and sneeze etiquette but please take the time to review at home as well. Please contact Nurse Ferron if you have any questions and she would be happy to help you. Her email is ferronj@sycamoreschools.org and phone is 686-1743.
What Causes Strep Throat?
The Streptococcal bacteria that causes this infection is spread by direct person-to-person contact through droplets of saliva or nasal secretions. The Streptococci frequently live in the throats of persons who have no symptoms and these individuals are called carriers. Up to 20% of school children may be carriers without being sick.
What Are the Signs of Illness?
After a 1-5 day waiting period, illness may include:
Oral temperature of 101 degrees-104 degrees (but some people do NOT run fevers)
Sore throat with severe pain on swallowing
A beefy red colored throat
Pus on tonsils
Swollen tonsils and uvula
Swollen glands along the jaw line
Generalized weakness and fatigue
Loss of appetite
Stomach pain
Up to 40% of children have symptoms too mild for diagnosis. Usually, the fever goes away in
3-5 days, and nearly all symptoms are gone within a week. Rarely, the bacteria may spread and cause arthritis, heart problems, meningitis, bone infections, or liver problems.
How do I Know if my Child Has Strep?
Just looking at the throat does not always indicate that a strep infection is present. Strep throat may be detected by various tests, most often a throat culture.
What Is the Treatment?
The usual treatment for Strep throat is antibiotic therapy. Remember!
Bed rest/isolation from others for 24 hours after antibiotic therapy begins are very important.
No child with a diagnosed strep infection should return to school until 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy is complete. Even then, the child should be without fever and feel strong enough to handle the school day.
You must finish the full prescription and not skip doses, even if your child feels better.
Serious infections of the kidney, liver, and heart can occur if the medicine is stopped before all of the bacteria causing the infection have been killed.
Tissues should be used and quickly thrown away.
Frequent handwashing prevents the spread of infection.
If a sore throat has a lot of pain, swelling and fever the child needs to see a physician.
If the sore throat continues after completing the medication, return to see the physician.
Notify the school nurse if your child has strep throat.
If your child has had repeated strep infections this year, talk with your doctor about repeating a throat culture after the antibiotic treatment. This will verify the strep infection was successfully treated.
