Sometimes self-diagnosis isn’t a good idea, and What’s Going Around this week is a perfect example of that. Centra Care doctors are seeing an increase of patients with Pharyngitis (a.k.a. sore throat). But this isn’t your ordinary sore throat that goes away on its own.
A look at the data shows that Centra Care physicians have seen a steady increase in Strep Throat since the end of Winter. Because it is caused by a bacteria, unlike a typical sore throat, Strep throat is most often remedied with prescription antibiotics.
A breakdown from the past week shows cases are continuing to rise throughout the Central Florida area. Strep increases at Centra Care centers are as follows:
· Oviedo – up over 500%
· Clermont & Azalea Park – 400%
· Sanford – over 300%
· Altamonte Springs & Longwood – 200%
· Conway, Sand Lake & Winter Park – Doubled
Most often, children between the ages of 5 and 15 experience Strep throat, although anyone can develop the condition. The infection is easily spread by person-to-person contact with nasal secretions or saliva. It takes 2 – 5 days after being exposed to the bacteria that causes Strep to experience symptoms.
Symptoms of Strep usually begin suddenly. The sore throat can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by other symptoms including:
* Fever that begins suddenly
* Red throat, sometimes with white patches
* Headache
* General discomfort or ill feeling
* Loss of appetite
* Tender, swollen lymph nodes in the neck
* Difficulty swallowing
* Stomach ache
* Nausea
* Chills
Only a physician can diagnose Strep by examining you and conducting tests. As previously mentioned, confirmed cases are treated with antibiotics to clear the bacteria and prevent further complications.
