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Strep Throat Exposure

Definition

  • Close contact with someone who has a Strep throat infection.
  • Close contact means living in the same house with the infected person. It also includes close physical contact such as having a kissing relationship.

Strep Exposure (Close Contact)

  • Household Close Contact. Lives with a person whose Strep test was positive. This can be a sibling, parent, or other household member.
  • Kissing relationship with someone (boyfriend, girlfriend) who has a positive Strep test.
  • Close contact should be within 10 days of onset of symptoms in exposed child. Reason: time from contact to Strep symptoms usually is 2 to 5 days.
  • Throat cultures and rapid Strep tests aren't urgent. Most can be done in your doctor's office.

Types of Limited Contact with Strep

  • Contact with someone outside the home with a positive Strep test. This type of contact occurs at school.
  • Sometimes, the contact is with someone who was treated for Strep without testing.
  • If fever is gone, children taking antibiotics for at least 12 hours do not spread Strep to others.

When To Call

Call 911 Now

  • Severe trouble breathing (struggling for each breath; can barely speak or cry)

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

  • Stiff neck or can't move neck like normal
  • Great trouble swallowing fluids or spit
  • Trouble breathing, but not severe
  • Fever higher than 104° F (40° C)
  • Dehydration suspected. No urine in more than 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears.
  • Your child looks or acts very sick
  • You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent. Note: a Strep test alone is not urgent.

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

  • Sore throat pain is severe and not better 2 hours after taking ibuprofen
  • Age less than 1 year old
  • Earache or sinus pain (not just congestion)
  • Mild symptoms that could be from Strep throat. (Some are sore throat, cries during feeds, large lymph nodes in the neck, fever)
  • Sores present on the skin
  • You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent (or needs a Strep test)

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

  • You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

  • Strep contact but no symptoms

Care Advice

Treatment for Contacts With Symptoms (Pending a Strep Test)

What You Should Know About Strep Exposure and Sore Throats:

  • A Strep test is not urgent.
  • It could be a Strep throat or just a viral infection of the throat.
  • A sore throat is often part of a cold.
  • Until you get a Strep test, here is some care advice that should help.

Sore Throat Relief:

  • Age over 1 year. Can sip warm fluids such as chicken broth or apple juice. Some children prefer cold foods such as popsicles or ice cream.
  • Age over 6 years. Can also suck on hard candy or lollipops. Butterscotch seems to help.
  • Age over 8 years. Can also gargle. Use warm water with a little table salt added. A liquid antacid can be added instead of salt. Use Mylanta or the store brand. No prescription is needed.
  • Medicated throat sprays or lozenges are generally not helpful.

Pain Medicine:

  • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
  • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
  • Use as needed.

Fever Medicine:

  • For fevers higher than 102° F (39° C), give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
  • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
  • Note: fevers less than 102° F (39° C) are important for fighting infections.
  • For all fevers: keep your child well hydrated. Give lots of cold fluids.

Fluids and Soft Diet:

  • Try to get your child to drink adequate fluids.
  • Goal: keep your child well hydrated.
  • Cold drinks, milk shakes, popsicles, slushes, and sherbet are good choices.
  • Solids. Offer a soft diet. Also avoid foods that need much chewing. Avoid citrus, salty, or spicy foods. Note: fluid intake is much more important than eating any solids.
  • Swollen tonsils can make some solid foods hard to swallow.

Return to School:

  • Your child may have a Strep throat infection. Wait for the result of the rapid Strep test. If it is negative, your child can go back to school.

Call Your Doctor If:

  • Your child becomes worse

Treatment for Contacts Without Symptoms

What You Should Know About Strep Exposure Without Symptoms:

  • Many children have contact with someone with Strep throat. Most will not come down with an infection. This is especially true if the contact occurs outside the home.
  • Strep tests are not needed for children without any symptoms.

Time It Takes to Get Strep Throat:

  • Time from contact to Strep symptoms usually is 2 to 5 days.

Return to School:

  • If your child has no symptoms, he does not need to miss any school.

Call Your Doctor If:

  • Your child gets any Strep symptoms in the next 7 days

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Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP
Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.
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