Monday, October 5, 2009

Strep Throat



Strep throat is a bacterial infection which can make the throat feel very sore and scratchy feelinng. It is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria.


Symptoms:
  • Throat pain

  • Difficulty swallowing

  • Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of puss

  • Tiny red spots at the hard or soft palate

  • Swollen, tender lymph glands in neck

  • Fever

  • Headache

  • Rash

  • Stomach ache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children

Body Systems Affected:

  • Lymphatic System- infection of the body

  • Digestive System- trouble swallowing can interfere with eating habits
  • Nervous System- works w/ the Lymphatic System to try to heal the infection

Other Facts:

  • Strep throat is highly contagious

  • It occurs most commonly in people ages 5-15

Source:

2 comments:

Ryan B. said...

The body's normal functions are interupted from the fact that food is hard to swallow and can lower the ammount of nutrients that get into the body.

Kaylie Sweet said...

Homeostasis can be harmed by strep throat because it produces toxins that can trigger an abnormal activation of the body's T cells, which regulate the immune system's response to infection. With the T cells thrown off, other illnesses may be able to slip by and cause more damage to the body.