JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Strep throat has been going around for the last few weeks. It's been affecting adults and children. Emergency doctors are warning everyone to beware.
"We're telling people if they have a sore throat that persists that they need to come in because we have seen a pretty high number of strep cases of late," says Ashley Norse with UF Health.
A warning from UF Health emergency medicine physician Dr. Ashley Norse about a highly contagious illness that you want to avoid if you can. It's described as a horrible sore throat and can be accompanied by other symptoms like a fever. But strep throat is tricky.
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"Believe or not can actually present with lots of different signs and symptoms especially with children if your kids are complaining of their heads hurting or their belly hurting those can actually be presenting signs of strap that parents are always aware of," says Norse.
Dr. Norse says she tells parents to look for a fever that won't break with Tylenol or Motrin and also if your little ones stop eating that's a sign they need to see a doctor.
"They need to come in one, because we need to check that there's not strep or something else going on and two because if they're not eating and drinking for a long period of time kids are susceptible to dehydration more so than adults," says Norse.
Another sign is white spots, or pus pockets, on the back of your throat. Strep usually affects kids between five and 15 but again anyone can get it. Also, once you get better make sure you throw out your old toothbrush and get a new one.