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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

To prevent strep infection:

  • Clean your hands. Proper hand cleaning is the best way to prevent all kinds of infections. That's why it's important to clean your own hands regularly and to teach your children how to clean their hands properly, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover your mouth. Teach your children to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.
  • Don't share personal items. If you or your child does have strep throat, don't share drinking glasses or eating utensils. Wash those items carefully in hot, soapy water or in a dishwasher.
References
  1. Strep throat. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/strepThroat/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed April 22, 2010.
  2. Giannoni CM. Streptococcal pharyngitis. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2010. 61st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00003-X--sc0070&uniq=195595841&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2. Accessed April 22, 2010.
  3. Fort GG. Pharyngitis/tonsillitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/197105845-8/0/2088/496.html?tocnode=58133576&fromURL=496.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00025-3--sc0140_10202. Accessed April 22, 2010.
  4. Choby B. Diagnosis and treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. American Family Physician. 2009;79:383.
  5. Hayden GF, et al. Acute pharyngitis. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/197105845-9/0/1608/897.html?tocnode=54482109&fromURL=897.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50380-7_7372. Accessed April 22, 2010.
  6. Fleisher GR. Evaluation of sore throat in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 22, 2010.
  7. Fort GG. Rheumatic fever. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/195595841-8/984459939/2088/572.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00027-7--s2315_11750. Accessed April 22, 2010.
  8. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 30, 2010.
DS00260 June 26, 2010

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