What Is Explosive Diarrhea
Technically, explosive diarrhea isn’t a medical term, but it can be used to describe some pretty intense poop action. “When people say ‘explosive diarrhea,’ they usually mean there’s an urgency to it and a sort of violent expulsion,” Kyle Staller, MD, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, tells Health.
It’s not necessarily the same thing as severe diarrhea, which doctors usually think of as having more than six loose, watery poops a day, along with symptoms of dehydration and abdominal pain, Dr. Staller says. But explosive diarrhea can lead to severe diarrhea, he adds..
When To Seek Medical Advice
Scarlet fever usually clears up after about a week, but if you think you or your child may have it, see your GP for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Your GP should be able to diagnose scarlet fever by examining the distinctive rash and asking about other symptoms. They may also decide to take a sample of saliva from the back of the throat so it can be tested in a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis.
There’s no evidence to suggest that catching scarlet fever when pregnant will put your baby at risk. However, if you’re heavily pregnant, tell the doctors and midwives in charge of your care if you’ve been in contact with someone who has scarlet fever.
Most Infections Respond Quickly To Antibiotics
Antibiotics are the appropriate treatment for strep throat since they stop the further spread of bacteria, reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other areas of the body, and help prevent serious complications. There are many antibiotics used in the treatment of strep throat. Most commonly used are penicillin or amoxicillin . Other antibiotics used to treat are azithromycin , cephalosporins, clarithromycin, and clindamycin. Side effects from antibiotics are generally mild and include stomachache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Factors to consider in the choice of antibiotic include the sensitivity of the bacteria to the antibiotic, patient allergies, dosing, taste, and cost. Seek emergency care immediately if wheezing, trouble breathing, rash, or fast heartbeat develops after antibiotic use. These symptoms can indicate an allergic reaction.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is appropriate to treat a fever, but aspirin should not be used in children and teens due to the risk of Reyes syndrome. Nonprescription lozenges and sprays may help soothe a sore throat, and saltwater gargles are effective in reducing sore throat pain.
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Research And Statistics: How Many People Get Strep Throat
The CDC estimates that there are several million cases of strep throat and other diseases associated with Group A streptococcus bacteria in the United States each year.
Per the CDC, out of these millions of cases, between 11,000 and 24,000 are invasive infections, meaning that the bacteria has spread to areas like the inner skin layers, blood, and lungs.
Worldwide, strep throat affects more than 616 million people each year, according to an article published in September 2019 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
How To Treat And Prevent Pneumonia
Pulse oximetry Measures the oxygen level in your blood and helps evaluate lung function.
Sputum culture test Examines a sample of your sputum to identify the bacteria, virus, or fungus that causes an infection.
Other imaging tests A CT scan or MRI looks for signs of infection throughout the body. For example, they may note swelling or inflammation in your head on a brain MRI, which could be a sign of meningitis. Your doctor can also diagnose meningitis by removing a sample of cerebral spinal fluid with a lumbar puncture procedure.
Throat culture To confirm or rule out strep throat as the underlying infection, your doctor may swab the back of your throat and check this sample for the strep bacteria.
Skin culture If you have an open wound, secretion from the wound or a skin sample can help diagnose cellulitis, staphylococcus aureus , or another skin infection.
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Weakening Of The Immune System
The chances of getting an infection in the urinary or digestive tract increases with a weakening of the immune system. Both urinary and digestive tract infections may occur simultaneously in such cases. Elderly individuals, chronically-ill patients , and those affected with immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS are susceptible to urinary tract infections and diarrheal diseases.
How Is Strep Throat Diagnosed
If you suspect you or your child may have strep throat, the Mayo Clinic recommends making an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Your doctor will conduct a physical exam looking for signs and symptoms of strep throat.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the only way for your doctor to diagnose strep throat is to perform either a rapid antigen test or a throat culture. Both involve rubbing a sterile swab over the back of the throat and tonsils to get a sample of the secretions.
Usually your doctor will perform the rapid antigen test first. This test can detect strep bacteria in minutes by looking for substances in the throat, says the Mayo Clinic.
If the test comes back negative but the doctor still suspects strep, the next step might be a throat culture. Some doctors will do both tests at the same time based on local protocols.
Samples collected from the back of the throat are cultured in a laboratory to reveal the presence of bacteria. Results of a throat culture can take as long as two days.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Strep Throat
The primary symptom of strep throat is a sore, scratchy throat. However, this is typically not mild in nature. Most strep throat pain is severe. The illness is almost always accompanied by a high fever, and it can also result in body aches, headaches, or nausea and vomiting. Nausea is more common in children than adults who contract the illness. Strep throat is also indicated by swollen lymph nodes in the neck and red or white patches on the back of the throat or tonsils.
How Strep Throat Is Diagnosed
Strep throat cant be diagnosed by symptoms alone, since many symptoms resemble symptoms of other infections, like cold viruses. If you bring your child to their pediatrician with symptoms of strep throat, they will do a test to find out whether your child has strep throat.
Usually, your healthcare provider will do a rapid antigen test to determine if your child has strep throat. This involves taking a sample from the back of your childs throat using a swab. Sometimes this test can be uncomfortable for children and make them gag, but its over quickly. Results from a rapid test are usually available within 30 minutes.
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How Does It Spread
Strep bacteria are spread through direct contact with mucus from the nose or throat of infected people. It can also be transmitted through the air by sneezing or coughing.
Although symptoms can be different, strep is spread much the same way as colds, flu, and other respiratory infections, through droplets expelled by sneezing or coughing. If a person comes in contact with those droplets, there is a big chance they might pick up the bug.
Due to it being highly contagious, people with strep throat should stay home from work or school. If left untreated, strep can spread quickly from person to person. A person can still be contagious for up to 24 hours of starting antibiotics.
Finally What Is The Typical Prognosis For Sepsis Cases
Although sepsis is serious, most people recover from mild sepsis. Recovery is also possible with severe sepsis. But unfortunately, about 40 percent of people diagnosed with severe sepsis do not survive. Among those who survive, about 50 percent deal with long-term effects of the illness, such as insomnia, muscle or joint pain, fatigue, decreased cognitive function, and poor concentration.
Because it takes time for the immune system to strengthen after sepsis, theres also the risk of recurrence. Be mindful of signs of a setback and contact your doctor right away if you are not feeling well, Lee urges.
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Testing Confirms Presence Of Bacteria
Classic symptoms of strep throat include a painful sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, swollen neck glands, nausea, and headache. Upon examination, the throat appears red, often with white or yellow dots or streaks, tiny red dots on the upper palate, and swollen tonsils. Sore throats accompanied by cold or flu-like symptoms, such as nasal congestion and cough, are typically caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not effective to kill viruses. To avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics and development of resistance, the diagnosis of a bacterial infection is essential before prescribing antibiotics. Since symptoms alone cannot definitively diagnose strep throat caused by bacteria, a rapid strep test detects the presence of a bacterial infection using a swab of the throat, followed by a culture if the rapid test is negative.
Sexual Activity And Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Diarrhea and urinary tract infections could also result from certain high risk sexual activities and sexually transmitted diseases. For example, anal intercourse can result in injury to the rectum . This could be a cause of diarrhea. Bacteria from the rectum can gain access to the vagina if vaginal intercourse happens after anal intercourse.
The resulting infection in the vagina could then spread to the urethra that lies in close proximity. Infections could also spread through objects used during sexual activities. A sexually transmitted disease can affect both the vagina and the rectum. Urinary tract infections could then ensue from the vaginal infections.
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How Is It Diagnosed
No one, not even a doctor, can diagnose strep throat just by looking at the throat. Together with a physical examination of the symptoms, tests will also be conducted.
A rapid strep test can be done by taking a quick swab sample from the throat. These can diagnose strep throat within minutes. If the result comes out negative but the doctor still suspects strep throat, he can do a throat culture.
A throat culture is done by quickly rubbing a sterile swab at the back of the throat to check for the presence of the streptococcus bacteria. It will be then sent to a laboratory for further examination. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for throat culture results to come in.
Red Tonsils And White Patches In The Throat
This is one of the major hallmarks of strep throat. Have your child open their mouth so you can get a good look. If you see red and white patches on their tonsils – possibly with pus – this is definitely time to head to the doctor’s office. This symptom is almost exclusively limited to infectious diseases like strep throat.
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Suspect Strep Throat Call The Doctor
If your child begins to show the symptoms of strep throat, youll need to call the doctor and make an appointment for a sick visit. Strep throat will not resolve on its own and can cause complications if left untreated. When caught early, strep throat is usually easier to manage, and the infection is short-lived. This means less downtime for your child and less time out of school or daycare.
At Penguin Pediatrics, we see many cases of strep throat every year, especially during cold and flu season. We will perform a strep throat test, or a throat swab, to determine if streptococcal bacteria are the cause of your childs illness. If the test is positive, our physicians will prescribe antibiotics and discuss home care routines to help your child feel better. If your child has any medication allergies or has had reactions to certain antibiotics in the past, be sure to let your doctor know so the correct antibiotic can be given.
Request an appointment online or call us at 253-6421 or 253-6842 . We look forward to helping your children get back on their feet!
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How Can I Treat Vomiting And Diarrhea
It is important to prevent dehydration. Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids when they are sick such as an oral rehydration solution. Nursing mothers should continue to breastfeed. If your child is suffering from diarrhea, avoid sugar-based beverages such as sports drinks, soda, or juices. The sugar can draw water into the intestines and away from the rest of the body, making the diarrhea worse and increasing the risk of dehydration. Additionally, these beverages may not contain electrolytes that need to be replenished.
Oral-rehydration suggested scheduled:
| Up to 1 cup | Every hour | |
| If vomiting – even if your child vomits after drinking the fluid part if it will stay down | 1-2 teaspoons | Every 1-2 minutes. Once the child is doing better increase to bigger sips spread 5 minutes apart |
Once nausea and vomiting have subsided you can resume a normal diet such as breastfeeding, formula , or solid foods
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What Causes Strep Throat
The tell-tale symptoms of strep throata painful sore throat, swollen glands, and feverare caused by an infection by Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A strep or as group A Streptococcus.
You can become infected by this bacteria by having close contact with someone else who is infected. Infection can also happen if you touch a surface with respiratory droplets on it from an infected person and then touch your nose or mouth. Sharing food or utensils with an infected person can also cause you to become infected.
Is This Your Child’s Symptom
- Your child was diagnosed with a Strep throat infection
- A doctor has told you your child probably has Strep throat or
- Your child has a positive Strep test
- Your child is taking an antibiotic for Strep throat and you have questions
- You are worried that the fever or sore throat is not getting better fast enough
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Causes And Risk Factors Of Strep Throat
According to the Mayo Clinic, anyone can get strep throat. But youre more likely to become sick if:
- Youre between 5 and 15 years old
- Its winter or early spring, when large groups of people tend to crowd together in enclosed environments, spreading bacteria
Since strep throat is contagious, youre much more likely to catch it if youre in close contact with someone who is infected, notes the CDC.
According to Nipunie S. Rajapakse, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic, strep infections commonly spread in households with more than one child, as well as in schools and child care centers.
Within a household, you may be sharing utensils or drinks, Dr. Rajapakse notes. Its not uncommon that well see two kids from the same family with similar symptoms at the same time.
While its rare for adults to catch strep throat, its not impossible especially if they work in a school or child care setting.
We do know that adults that work closely with kids tend to be exposed and get infected more commonly than the general population, Rajapakse notes.
What Is Strep Throat
Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsil area. Although strep throat shares some symptoms with common cold viruses, strep throat is not a viral infection. Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus .
Strep throat is a very common childhood ailment. Vania Nguyen, MD, PhD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., says that it most commonly affects school-aged children. Still, Dr. Nguyen notes that you shouldnt assume all sore throats are strep throat.
Only three out 10 children with a sore throat will actually have strep throat,” Dr. Nguyen notes. “Most sore throats are caused by a virus.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , strep throat is most prevalent among children ages 5 to 15 and is rare among children under the age of 3. Although adults dont usually get strep throatonly 10 percent of sore throats in adults end up being strep throatbeing in close contact with a child who has strep throat increases your risk of getting it.
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Symptoms Of Scarlet Fever
The symptoms of scarlet fever usually take two to five days to appear after infection.
However, the incubation period can be as short as one day or as long as seven days.
The symptoms of scarlet fever include a sore throat, headache, high temperature or above), flushed face and swollen tongue. The distinctive pink-red rash develops 12 to 48 hours later.
What Is Strep Throat Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can cause a sore, scratchy throat. The infection mostly affects children ages 5 to 15, but anyone can get it, according to the Mount Sinai Health System.
Caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes , strep throat is spread by secretions from an infected persons respiratory tract often transmitted in droplets when that person coughs or sneezes, notes Mount Sinai.
While strep throat is prevalent in school-age children, its not the most common cause of a sore throat, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention . Infections caused by a virus are much more likely to be the culprit.
While you or your child may recover from a sore throat without treatment, its important to get tested for strep if you suspect it might be causing your symptoms.
According to Mount Sinai, If strep throat isnt treated promptly with antibiotics, it can lead to complications, including abscesses near the tonsils, infected lymph nodes, or a serious inflammatory condition called rheumatic fever.
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