Question about strep throat

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in GERIATRICS,HOSPICE,MENTAL/PHYS DISABILED.

When a person gets strep throat does it have a smell?

If so, what kind of smell is it?

Is it different from a "bad-breath" smell?

Just curious....

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Specializes in Med-Surg, & ED.

Smell? Ive never heard of it being smelly ...though I know it hurts A LOT . I was exposed at work and was sick for one long week. My jaw hurt so bad I couldn't eat.

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Specializes in Ortho, Psych, Med-Surg, OB/GYN.

yes, they have terrible breath if they have the white patchy strep. it's basically infective sores with scabs in the back of the throat.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

We can't give medical advice here and if you or a family member aren't feeling well you need to seek medical care. Strep throat can cause a foul odor coming from the mouth but so can peritonsillar abscesses.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/groupastreptococcal_g.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001663/

http://www.enotes.com/microbiology-encyclopedia/strep-throat

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Specializes in Ortho, Psych, Med-Surg, OB/GYN.
We can't give medical advice here and if you or a family member aren't feeling well you need to seek medical care. Strep throat can cause a foul odor coming from the mouth but so can peritonsillar abscesses.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/groupastreptococcal_g.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001663/

http://www.enotes.com/microbiology-encyclopedia/strep-throat

who said she was seeking medical advice here? She asked a general question, it could be for personal knowledge, or for a school paper, or simply to prove a point to someone who thinks they know it all.

You should brush up on your nursing guidelines to know exactly what "giving medical advice" is.... this is not it. If so, then you would have to retract your answer of "strep throat can cause a foul odor coming from the mouth but so can peritonsillar abscess"

edit- (

sorry Esme when I re-read my post it comes across as rude... didn't mean for that, meant it more as stating facts)

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.
who said she was seeking medical advice here? She asked a general question, it could be for personal knowledge, or for a school paper, or simply to prove a point to someone who thinks they know it all.

You should brush up on your nursing guidelines to know exactly what "giving medical advice" is.... this is not it. If so, then you would have to retract your answer of "strep throat can cause a foul odor coming from the mouth but so can peritonsillar abscess"

edit- (

sorry Esme when I re-read my post it comes across as rude... didn't mean for that, meant it more as stating facts)

Please note that Esme went on to answer the OP's question. Her initial statement that we can't give medical advice is simply a clarification of the TOS to a user who might not know, and a reminder to the OP that, if she is researching this answer due to a personal or a friend's illness, than the correct place to get the information is from her doctor. I think you read into her post too much.

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Specializes in Ortho, Psych, Med-Surg, OB/GYN.

I don't think I read too much into anything :) I responded to exactly what was written. If the OP is on a nursing board she knows to get medical advice from a doctor.

Maybe you read into mine too much

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I can't speak for others but I know BOTH my daughters get what I call strep breath..its a destinctive smell they both get when strep is starting...the smell seems to start prior to them having any other typical symptoms.

I will add that both my daughters always complain of "belly aches" that proceed to vomiting with or without a low grade temp, then the streph breath..then the white coated tongue and throat, finally a much higher temp and the good ol' "streph rash" on their backs.

The breath is what clinches it for me when I KNOW its strep.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Thanks Ashley. I have worked Emergency Medicine and know exactly what giving advice is. There are certain terms of service that have to be followed and many come here seeking advice because the are "just curious" I would like you to notice I gave her several links to look up strep herself and whether or not it causes a foul odor to the breath so she may search for it herself.

It may be splitting hairs, but I just gave her ways for her to look it up for herself. If she is a student then she should google her own reports but I realize that sometimes students don't know what to google for....Many do come here and say they are in nurses (or aides or techs or transporters) and we have many patients that are on this site as well. So many do come here just because they know there are nurses they can ask.

In telling her "Yes it can but so can something else see your MD" is not medical advice and yet give her the means to search it for herself was only meant to be helpful which I do all the time. "I can't give you advice but if you look here"wink wink......I can get them the information they are seeking but may not know how to find.

I'm sorry if you felt I was offending the OP as I was just trying to supply her with the info she was seeking to help herself. I have learned over the years to never assume anything when dealing with the general public and I try very hard not to place my foot in mouth for any extended period of time. Thank you for your apology as it did seem a little harsh and rude.....all is forgiven no big deal....;)

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Specializes in CMSRN.

Strep for my family is mild sore throat and white patches. The stinky breath is not always present. I personally do not recognize it easily. I have heard it to be distinct though.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

I had strep many times as a teenager and have a daughter that has had it several times as well. I have never really noticed a strep smell but in my opinion their is a very distinct strep sound...not the sound of a normal voice with a sore throat but more of a strangulation type sound. Have sent aides home more than once when I hear that sound and have yet to be wrong.

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II have never really noticed a strep smell but in my opinion their is a very distinct strep sound...not the sound of a normal voice with a sore throat but more of a strangulation type sound.

Now that you mention that, I agree, there is a distinct sound to their voice when strep is starting..exactly like a strangulation type sound.

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