Sore throats are no fun for kids, especially when they develop into a nasty case of strep throat. Characterized by aches, pains and often the inability to speak without flinching, strep throat can force children to stay bundled up on the couch for days and can impact the overall health of your family.

According to a recent study, which was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on May 4, some methods that parents may use to reduce the spread and exposure children have to the condition may not be correct.

Researchers from University of Texas Medical Branch revealed that, while streptococcus – the bacteria that primarily causes strep throat – grew on the toothbrushes of kids who hadn’t been exposed to it previously, the bacteria failed to grow on the toothbrushes of youngsters with the ailment.

“This study supports that it is probably unnecessary to throw away your toothbrush after a diagnosis of strep throat,” said co-author Judith Rowen, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics at UTMB.

Is it strep throat?
How can you tell if it’s strep throat? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strep throat – which in addition to Group A streptococcus, as well as dry air and pollution – is considered a more severe form of sore throat.

If your child has been struggling with a sore throat for more than a week, has difficulty breathing, swallowing, has a temperature exceeding 104 degrees and pus coming from the back of his or her throat, it’s time to consult with a primary care provider.

He or she can help determine how negatively your child’s health has been impacted, and also offer great treatment options for alleviating a youngster’s discomfort.

The benefits of custom flavoring
For healthcare providers, including doctors and nurse practitioners, custom flavoring for medications to treat something like strep throat or cold and flu season can be an essential way to ensure children’s health and wellness.

By recommending flavoring on electronic prescriptions, medical professionals may be able to promote improving medicinal compliance, not to mention make it easier for parents to give kids the liquid treatments they need to boost their overall physical conditions.

Prescribers can reach out to a commercial or independent pharmacy for more details on how to add custom flavoring to the liquid medications they use to treat patients.