80% of strep throat is caused by the virus

Changing weather, dust, smoke, alcohol . are not the main causes of sore throat. Because 80% of strep throat is caused by the virus. Dr. Tran Nguyen Khoi, Specialist of Level 1, Children's Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh City, will answer some questions about this disease.

Many people believe that viral sore throats do not need to take medication on their own. Is that true?

Viral sore throat is also called sore throat and is most common in young children.

60% of sore throats are caused by viruses such as Adenovirus, RSV . 30% due to viruses, 10% due to non-inflammatory causes.

Not all cases will recover on their own. Only in ideal conditions such as good hygiene, good body resistance, no bacterial infection, the disease will recede after 5-7 days. In the infection phase, without timely treatment, the disease can cause dangerous complications.

Does the disease often occur more in the cold season? What signs help identify the body getting infected?

Humid weather, dust, pollution . makes harmful bacteria easy to penetrate into the airways. Viral pharyngitis usually begins with viral infection, followed by superinfection of other bacterial infections, usually congenital bacteria that are present in the throat such as streptococcus, pneumococci . making the disease worse.

Initially, at the stage of viral infection, patients often have moderate fever, chills, headache, fatigue, poor appetite. In addition, the throat feels dry and hot, gradually becoming painful, difficult to swallow, a hoarse voice. The patient has flu symptoms such as coughing, coughing or coughing with mucus, with mucus discharge and nasal congestion.

In the period of bacterial infection with high fever, dry lips, the entire red throat mucosa, tonsils are swollen and reddish.

In many cases, the appearance of lymph nodes in the jaw is slightly swollen and slightly painful. At this stage, the disease is prolonged and requires prompt antibiotic treatment, limiting possible complications.

That means when we start having a sore throat, we have to use antibiotics right away?

For adults and young children, the problem of using antibiotics does not need to be directed by a doctor. Antibiotics are used only when the patient has clear signs of infection or the cause of bacterial infection is not ruled out. The doctor will choose antibiotics according to microbiological results, severity of the disease, history of antibiotic use .

If the viral inflammation of the throat is normal, the patient does not need prophylactic antibiotic treatment. If the infection is caused by bacteria, the doctor will prescribe specific antibiotics.

The most important problem is still prevention by ensuring clean hygiene in eating, living, wearing masks when going to the street. A complete diet also helps to increase the body's resistance. Young children need to be breastfed after birth, they fully prevent and ensure nutrition by age.