It is normal for babies to get strep throat from time to time, but when it becomes something that happens often, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue. Here we look at the symptoms and causes of strep throat in babies, when to spot this illness and when to call our Sotogrande GP for strep throat in children.
Is my baby suffering from strep throat?
According to our Sotogrande GP for strep throat in children, around 3 in 10 children who have a sore throat have strep throat. It is important that you understand that most sore throats are not caused by strep and the reasons for them to develop are multiple, like viruses, allergens or non-strep bacteria.
If you aren’t sure your baby has a strep throat, the following symptoms will help you diagnose it:
- pain when swallowing
- rapid onset sore throat
- fever
- nausea
- tonsils that are swollen, inflamed and with white patches or pus
- headache
- roof of the mouth with red spots, called petechiae
- swollen lymph nodes
- vomiting
Strep throat rarely causes a sore throat in infants under 3 years old. Instead, it may cause:
- cold symptoms
- irritability
- feeding issues
- fever
What causes strep throat in babies?
Although strep throat is rare in infants under 3 years old, in some occasions some children and babies can get repeated periods of strep throat. The cause to this is most of the time due to them being frequent contact with someone who is a strep carrier.
Some studies suggest that breast milk protects babies and infants against many infections, but it is unclear if breastfed babies have a lower chance of getting strep throat than formula-fed babies.
When to call our Sotogrande GP for strep throat in children
If after reading this article you think your child is suffering from strep throat, you should call our Sotogrande GP for strep throat in children. Our GP may prescribe antibiotics and the symptoms should resolve in a few days.
If your child doesn’t get treated, strep throat could lead to serious complications, like rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart.
Some symptoms of rheumatic fever include:
- joint swelling and pain
- fever
- Fatigue
- difficulty breathing, chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, and other heart-related symptoms
- uncontrollable body movements
- nodules and rash, though these are rare
Other complications that can occur if strep bacteria spread to other parts of the body include:
- tonsil abscesses
- ear and sinus infections
- a type of kidney disease