Got a scratchy, achy throat that just won’t quit? It might be strep throat sneaking up on you! Strep, short for streptococcus, is that pesky bacteria causing all the trouble.
You’ll know it’s the culprit when you’re battling a sore throat, fever, and feeling downright crummy. It spreads like wildfire, especially in close quarters like schools and offices, so watch out!
It’s contagious
Amanda Katikati from Mfuleni in Cape Town describes how, in January 2024, a cousin living in the same house developed a skin rash that progressed to a stiff neck, fever, and sore throat.
Concerned about these symptoms, the family sought medical attention for her cousin. Unfortunately, their close living situation facilitated the spread of the infection.
Following multiple doctor visits, other members of the household began experiencing similar symptoms, including fever and a sore throat.
“We took my cousin to the hospital because we were worried about the high fever and severe throat pain,” explains Katikati.
“The doctor confirmed it was strep throat, along with some other conditions.”
Amanda Katikati
Katikati says they used over-the-counter medication and some concoctions, like boiled lemon water, bay leaves, ginger, garlic, and honey to soothe the throat.
“The strep throat took about two weeks to go away. We were sceptical about leaving the house and not going to work. While we wore masks, people couldn’t understand why.”
How it spreads
Dr Saira Carim of the #Keready Clinics in the King Cetshwayo district, KwaZulu-Natal, says, “Just like colds or the flu, pharyngitis, also known as strep throat, spreads through close contact with someone who’s infected – think coughing, sneezing, and sharing items.”
However, she explains that you can reduce the risk of catching or spreading it by sneezing into your elbow, keeping your hands clean, wearing a mask when you’re sick, and starting antibiotics early if prescribed.
Carim says antibiotics like penicillin or amoxicillin from a doctor’s prescription can ease the pain.
“To ease the symptoms, you can take over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol, use throat sprays, or suck on lozenges.”
She adds that home remedies like a warm honey and lemon drink can also help soothe a sore throat.
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Common symptoms
The most common bacterium responsible for bacterial throat infections is streptococcus pyogenes. If you have bacterial pharyngitis, you might experience a sore throat, painful swallowing, headaches, swollen tonsils and lymph nodes, and white spots at the back of your throat or on your tonsils, explains Carim.
She further says strep throat is closely linked to many symptoms. Viral pharyngitis, on the other hand, may also cause a sore throat and difficulty swallowing, and it may additionally lead to a cough, runny nose, scratchy voice, throat sores, and sometimes pink eye.
“Strep throat is more common in the cooler months of winter and spring when people tend to spend more time indoors with limited fresh air,” she says.
“Opening windows to allow airflow can help prevent the spread of germs.”
Dr Saira Carim
What’s the worst that could happen?
Carim emphasises that untreated strep throat can lead to more severe health complications. She advises seeking medical attention if you experience difficulty swallowing or notice swollen tonsils or white patches on them or your throat.
“If not treated, it could lead to more serious problems like acute rheumatic fever (which affects your heart, joints, and skin), kidney issues, or an abscess around your tonsils (peritonsillar abscess).”
She says, “Most of the time, you might not hear a doctor say, ‘strep throat’ directly; they’ll just mention it’s a bacterial throat infection and start treatment based on that.”
She adds that while some places diagnose through swab tests for accuracy, here in Mzansi, we typically diagnose based on visual examination without the need for swab tests.
Food to support the immune system
Kinza Hussain, a registered dietitian with The Heart and Stroke Foundation, says certain foods can be included in our everyday diet to support the immune system and prepare it to fight off both bacterial and viral infections. These foods include whole grains instead of refined starch.
“These high-fibre foods lower cholesterol levels, the risk of diabetes, and heart disease,” she says.
Hussain adds that these conditions are linked to chronic inflammation, which suppresses the functioning of the immune system.
Another recommended food is protein, which includes foods like eggs, tinned fish, beans, lentils, chickpeas, chicken, and lean meat.
“Lacking protein in our diets has detrimental effects on the cells responsible for a good immune system, increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections,” explains Hussain.
Something to keep in mind as well as healthy fats, including foods like nuts, seeds, peanut butter, avocado, sunflower oil, and fatty fish, notes Hussain.
“Both omega-6 and omega-3 fats have an important role in the immune system, particularly in regulating inflammation.”
“Inflammation, often presented as the redness and swelling surrounding a wound, is a sign that our immune system is working.”
Registered dietitian Kinza Hussain
Fruits and vegetables should be a part of our daily diet, she says, and recommends yellow-orange and dark green vegetables like sweet potato and spinach contain beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A once in the body.
“Most fruits and vegetables contain nutrients termed phytonutrients, present in tiny amounts and providing additional health benefits.”
Hussain states these nutrients provide flavour and colour to foods, serve as antioxidants, and help to calm chronic inflammation. Every colour typically means a different phytonutrient, so try to include them all!
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