Your kiddo has a sore throat. How do you know if it’s just a cold or something more serious. Understanding strep throat in kids will help you determine what you need to do.
WHAT IS STREP THROAT?
Strep throat is a common childhood infection, responsible for up to 30 percent of all sore throats in children. It’s caused by a bacteria known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS) that spreads through direct contact and respiratory droplets—making it particularly contagious. Children between the ages of 5–15 are particularly susceptible; as our young ones jump into the social world of schooling, infections such as strep throat can easily spread. Winter is the most common time for strep to spread, as we spend less time being physically active outside and more time indoors, breathing the same air and sharing surfaces.
Common symptoms of strep:
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Sudden, severe sore throat
- Fever over 38.3°C
- Painful swallowing
- Red, swollen tonsils (often with white patches)
- Swollen, tender lymph nodes of the neck
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting (especially in younger children)
- Absence of cough or runny nose
Less commonly, strep can present with a rash (scarlet fever), abdominal pain, and body aches.
Other conditions that present like strep throat (and can be mistaken for it) include:
- Viral pharyngitis: cough, runny nose, itchy red eyes (all uncommon with strep)
- Flu/Influenza: fever, dry cough, headache, fatigue, body aches
- Mono/Mononucleosis: severe fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, possible rash
- Allergies/Allergic Rhinitis: red and itchy eyes, postnasal drip irritating the throat (no fever or swollen nodes)
Accurate diagnosis is important, as many of these conditions are viral and don’t need antibiotics. Fortunately, a Rapid Strep Test can confirm the condition quickly.
STREP TREATMENT APPROACHES
The conventional treatment for strep is a 10-day course of antibiotics, typically penicillin or amoxicillin. These pharmaceuticals are effective in reducing symptoms, decreasing the spread of infection to others, and more importantly, helping prevent complications such as rheumatic fever and organ damage.
Despite the effectiveness of antibiotics, their use is not without drawbacks. Antibiotics kill off both the good and bad bacteria in your body, which can cause diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain; repeated use can further lead to immune dysfunction. One in every 10 patients using penicillin reports an allergic reaction to it. Although true penicillin allergies are uncommon, it’s important to be aware that they do exist, and that other options are available.
NATURAL SUPPORTIVE THERAPIES
Integrative medicine offers several research-backed natural therapies that can help prevent and treat many different throat infections. These therapies can even be used alongside antibiotics in more severe cases.
Probiotics: These supplements help replenish beneficial bacteria killed by antibiotics and support the immune system. Even if you don’t need antibiotics, probiotics can help maintain a robust immune system by supporting gut health. Specific strains such as S. salivarius K12 have been linked to significant reductions in strep reoccurrence.
Zinc Lozenges: Zinc plays an important role in our immune response and may reduce the duration of colds and sore throats. It also has antimicrobial effects, which can be particularly useful when dealing with a bacterial infection such as strep throat.
Licorice Root: Chewable deglycyrrhizinated (DGL) is a special form of licorice root that can soothe a sore throat by creating a protective coating. Licorice also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help make your child feel more comfortable.
Please note that licorice root should only be consumed in the DGL form to prevent side effects.
Echinacea: Known for its immune-boosting effects, echinacea extracts can help the body fight infections. Studies suggest that echinacea may reduce the duration and severity of respiratory infections when taken at the first sign of symptoms.
Vitamin C: This powerful antioxidant supports the immune system and has been shown to reduce the severity of respiratory infections such as colds.
Ultimately, the best treatment for any disease or infection is prevention. This is why having a nutritious and well-balanced diet is particularly important for children who are prone to infections like strep throat. Zinc deficiencies have been implicated in recurrent strep infections, and similarly, low levels of vitamin D can dramatically impact immune function. This is why spending time outdoors and staying physically active are super important too.
Remember, strep and many other infections can be spread through touch, which makes regular handwashing very important; however, once your child has an active infection, prevention is no longer an option and the emphasis needs to shift to actively treating the infection, managing symptoms and side effects, and ultimately making your child as comfortable as possible while they bravely fight off the disease.
