bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

USA TODAY

Changes in air temperature mean it’s the season of sore throats. But not all sore throats are made equal – some are caused by viruses; others by bacteria.
Strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis) is an illness which, while usually mild, can be painful – and sometimes deadly. The United Kingdom early this month reported the deaths of six children from a rare invasive Group A strep illness.
Here’s everything you should know about strep throat, from its symptoms to treatment.
What is strep throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils, caused by group A Streptococcus – strep A.
“Dozens of different types of streptococcal bacteria can infect humans,” says Dr Kristin Moffitt, an infectious disease doctor at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Health questions: what to do if I have a sore throat? Will tea help?
Group A strep has a specific carbohydrate attached to the surface. Group B strep is a different bacteria with a different carbohydrate on its surface that causes different infections – it is not a common cause of strep throat.
Group B can cause serious medical complications in people of all ages, but especially newborns, the CDC reports. The bacteria, which mostly lives in the gastrointestinal and genital tracts, causes Guillain-Barré syndrome.
What are the first signs of strep throat?
The first symptoms are often a sore throat, pain when swallowing, and a fever, according to Moffitt.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reports that other common symptoms include:

red swollen tonsils with white spots and pus at times


petechiae: small red spots on the roof of the mouth


swollen lymph nodes on the neck

Strep infections can also cause vomiting, stomach pain and nausea, as well as headaches, especially in children.
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Children and teenagers with strep throat do not usually have a cough or congestion, Moffitt says, noting that these symptoms would be more typical of a respiratory viral infection.
“Some children with strep throat can develop a sandpaper-like rash; this is suggestive of a diagnosis of scarlet fever,” Moffitt adds.
Group A Streptococcus, which causes strep throat, can sometimes produce a toxin that causes a rash – red skin with a rough feel to the touch. The rash is likely to first appear on the neck, underarms, and groin, the CDC reports. Over time it can spread to the rest of the body.

How do you catch strep throat?
Strep throat is a highly infectious bacterial infection. It is spread from person to person through direct contact, and through respiratory droplets. In short, you get strep throat from spending time with someone who already has it.
In rare cases, strep can be spread through improperly handled food.
A person can catch strep throat by:

breathing in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria


touching a surface that has that bacteria living on it, and then touching their nose or mouth


sharing food or drink with a person who has strep throat


touching a sore that someone infected with strep has on their skin

The incubation period for strep throat is two to five days, Moffitt says.
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Can strep throat recur?
There is no vaccine for strep throat, and you don’t build immunity from a previous infection. So you can catch it more than once.
The best way to prevent reinfection is good hygiene. For small children, if strep throat keeps recurring, some doctors recommend tonsil removal. The operation, called a tonsillectomy, is usually only recommended if your child is getting strep throat seven or more times in one year.
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How long does strep throat last?
Once antibiotics are taken, symptoms should improve within 48 hours, the Mayo Clinic reports.
Strep throat can heal on its own without antibiotics in several days, Moffitt says.

“Antibiotics reduce the duration of symptoms and the length of time that someone with strep throat can infect others.”
Antibiotics also reduce the chances of complications such as abscesses of the throat or rheumatic fever which, while rare, can be very serious, and infect the heart.
The Mayo Clinic also advises taking over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve symptoms, as well as getting plenty of rest, hydrating, gargling with warm saltwater, eating soothing foods, and using a humidifier.

How to prevent strep throat
The best way to prevent strep throat is the same as with other respiratory infections, Moffitt says.
Best practices include:

good hand washing, especially after sneezing or coughing and before eating


staying away from people with symptoms


avoiding shared utensils and sharing drinks

Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


Strep throat – all you need to know about the contagious, sometimes deadly infection, and how to avoid it

Strep throat causes sore throat, fever and pain when swallowing, and sometimes a rash and nausea. The bacterial infection is usually mild, but can be fatal. Photo: Shutterstock

An illustration of a normal throat, one with a bacterial infection and one with a viral infection. Photo: Shutterstock

A doctor checks for swollen lymph nodes, an early sign of strep throat. Photo: Shutterstock

Strep throat is spread from person to person through direct contact, and through respiratory droplets. Photo: Shutterstock

Gargling with warm saltwater can help ease the symptoms of strep throat. Photo: Shutterstock

Hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of strep throat. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Is your throat sore? Is swallowing painful? Have you got a fever? You may have an infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria
You can catch it by breathing in droplets, touching an infected surface, or sharing food or drink with an infected person


Strep throat causes sore throat, fever and pain when swallowing, and sometimes a rash and nausea. The bacterial infection is usually mild, but can be fatal. Good hygiene can help you avoid it.


Wellness

Disease

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | Strep throat – all you need to know about the contagious, sometimes deadly infection, and how to avoid it

Is your throat sore? Is swallowing painful? Have you got a fever? You may have an infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria You can catch it by breathing in droplets, touching an infected surface, or sharing food or drink with an infected person

Is your throat sore? Is swallowing painful? Have you got a fever? You may have an infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria

You can catch it by breathing in droplets, touching an infected surface, or sharing food or drink with an infected person