Last week, I was down with a terrible sore throat that led to a high grade fever. I prayed hard that I won’t need any antibiotics for that so I resorted to some of my favourite natural health remedies for a bad throat. I was using propolis and manuka honey (active 25+) once every other hour throughout the whole week.

I’m not sure if that was considered a strep throat but I knew that it could led to some serious infection. Streptococcus bacteria can be easily contracted through sneezing and coughing and it is possible to get strep throat simply by breathing the same air with an infected person. Children and teenagers are often confronted with strep throat but the illness can occur in adults just as well.

It is important to note that not all sore throats are strep throats. Sore throats are caused by infection with viruses and they tend to heal very quickly. In most cases, people with sore throat donít need any kind of medical treatment at all. Strep throat, however, needs special care and attention, as the illness can become serious. The symptoms of strep throat are usually more intense than those of sore throat and they may sometimes spread throughout the entire body (generalized state of fatigue, body weakness and muscular pain). Strep throat also needs specific medical treatment with antibiotics.

Serious symptoms that require immediate medical help are high fever, rash (a sign of infection with powerful bacteria), difficulties in swallowing, difficulties in breathing, intense throat pain, throat swelling and throat bleeding. If you detect the presence of these symptoms in your child, it is strongly recommended to pay a visit to a physician.

I’m glad that I recovered within three days and was off to buy some toys for my boy after that. So the next time you have a bad throat coming, try out the above natural health remedies of propolis and manuka honey.