It may have happened to you. One of your children looks ill. The fever, the painful throat, the general look of discomfort. You immediately think that they have caught the flu or are suffering from allergies, but you notice the telltale signs of strep throat after further inspection. Many people choose to diagnose strep throat in the comfort of their homes. But is it really enough? Are home strep test kits reliable for diagnosing strep throat?

The following article will address some commonly asked questions about strep throat and home testing.

Strep Throat Is a Common Infection Among Children

If you have a child, it is natural to worry when they start complaining of pain in the mouth. A sore throat can mean many things. One of its most common causes is strep throat, a type of pharyngitis. This is a bacterial infection carried by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria.

Although anyone can get strep throat, it's most common in kids between the ages of 5 and 15, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And it is easily spread from one person to another by coughing, sneezing, or others who may have been in close contact with an individual who has it. The chances of spreading strep throat to others are higher when a child has severe symptoms, but they can still infect those around them for up to three weeks. It can be less severe in young children, but it can be life-threatening in infants and older adults.

Symptoms to Watch Out For

A sore throat is a common sign of strep throat. The pain is often located on one side of the throat and is worsened by swallowing. It can also make it difficult to drink, eat or talk normally. These are other symptoms that may require you to test your child:

• fever
• inflamed tonsils
• tender lymph nodes
• sores on the back of your mouth
• foul breath
• white patches inside the mouth
• headache
• stomach pain
• ear pain
• nausea
• rashes 
• a general feeling of discomfort

Diagnosing strep throat in a child is essential to prevent serious but uncommon complications such as 

• Rheumatic fever (can damage heart valves and joints)
• Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (a kidney disease)
• Scarlet Fever
• Toxic Shock Syndrome

Strep Throat Diagnosis 

The following are tests that help diagnose a strep throat infection. These kits detect either antigens, parts of bacteria that cause an immune system response, or antibodies, cells produced by the immune system to destroy bacteria.

Rapid Strep Test 

A rapid strep test is a diagnostic procedure that helps physicians quickly identify if a patient has Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis in less than 15 minutes. The test involves collecting a swab of the patient's mouth and analyzing it for antibodies to the bacteria.

While a rapid strep test can provide preliminary results in a few minutes, it cannot identify which antibiotic will effectively treat the infection or identify other conditions that might be causing symptoms similar to strep, such as tonsillitis. Because of these limitations, physicians do not rely exclusively on rapid strep tests to diagnose strep throat. Rapid strep tests are also available for at-home use.

Throat Culture

A throat culture provides a more accurate result than a rapid strep test, but it takes longer (2-3 days) to receive the results. It takes longer than a rapid strep test, but throat cultures sometimes detect infections that a quick strep test fails to see. The process for collecting samples is the same as the rapid strep test. The difference is the collected body swabs will be sent to a lab. All culture methods share the same basic concept, in which a sample of body fluid is placed on a growth medium and incubated for 24-48 hours. After which, they will study the type of bacteria causing your infection.

Are Home Strep Tests Accurate?

Rapid strep test kits are available over the counter at drugstores and do not require a doctor's prescription. These tests are quick and easy to use, giving you results in as little as five minutes. It works just like a rapid test that doctors perform. While at-home strep tests are a convenient and quick means for testing your child's throat for streptococcus, they aren't 100% accurate. 

These tests are often not enough to make a diagnosis independently, but they can be helpful as a part of the diagnostic process. They're also less accurate in people with false-positive results due to illnesses that cause sore throats without strep infection, such as mononucleosis, scarlet fever, or other viral infections.

If your child has a negative test but still shows symptoms, it could still be something other than strep. Moreover, your pediatrician might suggest a different type of test, such as a traditional lab culture.

If your child tests positive with a home strep throat test, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Strep Throat Treatments

Finding out your child has strep throat can be concerning, but knowing how to deal with their symptoms and treating the infection is critical to your child's health. In the absence of treatment, they may experience some pretty uncomfortable side effects or possibly, even more, severe complications. Here are the common remedies for strep throat:

Medications

The bacteria that cause strep throat are highly contagious but easy to treat with antibiotics. A doctor can prescribe either penicillin or amoxicillin, depending on the severity of symptoms. To prevent further infection, teach your child to use a tissue to cover the mouth and nose when they sneeze or cough and dispose of it immediately. If they don't have a tissue, instruct them to cough or sneeze into their upper arm or elbow, not their hands.

Oral Hygiene, Proper Handwashing, and Sanitation

As with all germs and viruses, one preventive way to keep it from spreading is to wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also help –make sure you get the kind that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can also wipe down surfaces that people often touch with Lysol. If someone is sick, you should also wash their dishes, glasses, and utensils. Lastly, ensure that they brush their teeth and gargle with a warm salt-water solution to keep their mouth clean.

Offer Easy-To-Swallow Food and Keep Them Hydrated

Give your child foods that are soft and easy to chew, such as eggs, fruit and vegetable purees, soup, mashed potatoes, or oatmeal. It may be hard for your child to eat if swallowing is painful. In addition, Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids, such as Pedialyte®, juice, and water.

Consult with Sang Pediatrics!

Home strep tests could save you a trip to your doctor for a strep test, but doctors warn about misdiagnosing the illness and missing out on treatment that can prevent serious health problems. It's always best to be sure about the diagnosis for the sake of your child's health. Your best bet is to take them to a pediatrician for a thorough examination. 

Sang Pediatrics can address any concerns you have about your child's health and well-being. Call (559) 268-1737 or book an appointment online, and we will be happy to assist you and take care of your child's health.