Strep Throat

Strep throat is very common among children and teens. Symptoms of strep throat include fever, stomach pain, headache and red- swollen tonsils. All of these symptoms are not always present.  

The cause of strep throat is a bacteria known as Streptococcus Pyogenes, or Group A Streptococcus. Streptococcal bacteria are highly contagious. They can spread through airborne droplets when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes. You can also pick up the bacteria from a doorknob, grocery cart, daycare facilities, or other surfaces and transfer them to your nose or mouth. Kitchen utensils and bathroom objects are other common modes of infection transmission. Strep bacteria flourish wherever groups of people are in close contact. Although strep throat can occur anytime of the year, it tends to circulate in late fall, winter and early spring. 

Due to privacy laws, we do not send home notes when a student in class has been diagnosed with strep throat.

Strep Throat Prevention tips: 

• Wash your hands: Proper handwashing is the best way to prevent all kinds of infections. That's why it is important to wash your own hands regularly and to teach your children how to wash their hands properly, using soap and water. 
• Cover your cough and catch your sneezes: Teach your children to cover their coughs (with a tissue or their sleeves). 
• Don't share personal items: Teach your child not to share drinking glasses, toothbrushes, eating utensils, or other personal items.