As the season changes and spring blooms in Illinois, it's prime time for people to get sick and experience a range of health issues.

Over the weekend, I was cleaning my apartment and suddenly got a weird tickle in my throat.  I knew something wasn't right.  Next day, I came down with a head cold and a bad sore throat.  Luckily, it's not strep just a mild cold.

Transitioning out of the colder months can really take a toll on your health, especially if you have a weak immune system like me!

It is prime time for strep throat to amp up in Illinois, which is pretty concerning to doctors considering 5 Pediatric patients have already died from dangerous cases.

I"DPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra warned that cases of group A strep throat leading to severe complications are on the rise in Illinois, with more cases reported in 2023 than in any of the past five years." [illinois.gov]

Do you have a case of strep throat?  Here are a few symptoms:

• Throat pain that presents itself fast
• Painful swallowing
• Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
• Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)
• Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck
• Fever
• Headache
• Rash
• Nausea or vomiting, especially in younger children
• Body aches

Steps to prevent strep throat:

- Wash your hands thoroughly.  It's so important to wash your own hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.  Use a tissue or your elbow.

- Don't share drinks or personal items with others.  This means drinking out of the same straw, eating off the same plate, etc.

If you think you have strep or any indication of a bad illness, don't hesitate to contact your doctor or get tested for infections!  Stay healthy, it's hard to with the drastic Midwest season changes sometimes.