Dr. Rachel Chatters, an experienced and board-certified pediatrician doctor, sees patients regularly for strep throat at her practice, Chatters Pediatrics in Lake Charles, LA. She embraces preventative healthcare, thus avoiding future health crises. Our doctor is here today to explain the severe strep complications if it goes untreated. She wants to stress the importance of seeking immediate treatment.
Complications of Untreated Strep: Rheumatic Fever and Scarlet Fever
Chatters Pediatrics in Lake Charles, LA, explains that children frequently get sore throats, and sometimes strep throat. The signs and symptoms of strep are:
- Sudden onset
- Challenging to swallow
- Fever over 101 degrees
- Swelling around the tonsils
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Patches of white or yellow at the back of the throat
Complications of Untreated Strep
Scarlet Fever
Streptococcus-A is a bacterial infection causing scarlet fever. This condition is highly contagious if you can breathe in the bacteria. You can touch a surface laden with the bacteria, then touch your nose or mouth, or use the same eating utensils as those sick with this fever. If you feel the sores on the skin of someone infected, you can get this.
Scarlet fever attacks your child's immune system, destroying its organ tissue. This fever causes inflammation, affecting the heart, blood vessels, and joints.
Symptoms could be a pale ring around the mouth, tiny petechiae rash, peeling skin in seven to ten days after the rash fades, white coating over the tongue, swollen red, bumpy tongue and roof of the mouth, swollen tonsils, red/sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, chills, stomach pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, decreased appetite. The treatment of choice is antibiotics.
Rheumatic Fever
This autoimmune illness presents a red, jagged rash and causes inflammation primarily in the heart and other body organs. It causes arthritis, jerky extremities, nodules under the skin, chest pain, irregular heart, extreme fatigue, fever, headaches, muscle aches, and swollen tonsils. Treatment is provided through antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication.
The best prevention you can take is an immediate sick visit appointment, testing your child for strep, and treating it as indicated, thus preventing scarlet or rheumatic fever.
Call Us Today for an Appointment!
Are you seeking a compassionate pediatrician who takes the time to listen to your concerns? Our doctor would like to meet to discuss your expectations of your child's quality of healthcare. If you believe your child may have strep throat, call Dr. Chatters today at 337-475-9009 at Chatters Pediatrics in Lake Charles, LA, to schedule your sick - visit. You will love our doctor and her staff of professionals.