What Vitamins Help Prevent Strep Throat?

One of the most common bacterial infections in the tonsils and throat is caused by a group known as Streptococcus. The infection that irritates the throat is known as Strep throat infection. Strep throat symptoms and viral infection symptoms are almost the same. So, they are tough to differ.

There are many vitamins available that can help with this infection. Some home remedies can help boost your immune system and give you natural relief from strep throat pain. Moreover, natural methods are more beneficial for step throat infections than medicinal antibiotic treatment. In this article, you will find what vitamins help prevent strep throat.

What Is Strep Throat Infection

Strep throat is, also known as streptococcal pharyngitis, caused by a group of bacteria known as Streptococcus. This bacteria is also responsible for sore throat infections, especially in adults and about 30% in children.

The strep throat infection is commonly indicated by fever, tenderness, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, and pain while swallowing. In most cases of sore throat in adults, the reason is viral fever, which is why the antibiotics are useless against them.

However, in the cases of confirmed strep throat, antibiotic treatment plays a crucial role since it can prevent dangerous outcomes, including rheumatic heart disease or retropharyngeal abscess.

Long ago, when chemists did not create antibiotics, people suffered severe pain due to inadequate treatment of strep throat infection.

However, lately, a probiotic has reduced the significant risk of strep throat. Also, it is capable of the effect of non-strep and viral sore throats.

Sore Throat Problems In Adults

There are not many illnesses that are as disturbing as a sore throat. However, you cannot identify the actual reason for an infectious sore throat, whether bacteria or viruses cause it.

If the sore throat is caused by strep throat or Streptococcus pyogenes, the infection can be more dangerous and accompanied by a high fever. However, it can differ from one person to another.

Since sore throat is mainly caused due to viruses, so antibiotics are of no use against it. Still, most physicians prescribe antibiotic treatment to lessen the cases by some percentage. However, it has been reduced over the past few years since most patients and care providers are aware of it.

Bacterial infection, which is caused due to pathogenic organisms, indicates the use of antibiotics. The organisms like Streptococcus pyogenes generate a severe sore throat that lasts for about four to six days. These organisms stay in your body for a long time and cause severe complications of rheumatic heart diseases, retropharyngeal abscesses, and kidney disease (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis). Though these conditions are rarely seen today, one should be cautious about overprescribing antibiotics.

Upper respiratory tract infections are usually given overprescribed antibiotics, also known as a public health problem and mainly seen in healthy adults. However, such practices can create superbugs, which are almost incurable and can produce more dangerous infections. Also, one can create an imbalance in the gastrointestinal microbiome GI through indiscriminate antibiotic use.

You cannot say for yourself if the cause of sore throat is due to strep throat or not. Still, whatever may be the reason, most adult patients are treated with antibiotics, which finally become nonbacterial in origin.

Sore Throat And Strep Throat

Sore throat is primarily due to a virus, and the pain happens in the throat. However, it can also be due to bacteria, throat dryness, allergies, and pollution. If you face a sore throat infection, you can have a strep throat infection and some other respiratory infections. Moreover, these two infections can spread from person to person through close contact. Strep throat, also caused by a virus, can be as contagious as a sore throat.

Throat infections are more common in adults than in children under 5 years of age. Children below 15 suffer from throat infections due to bacterial infections, characterized by group A strep. Moreover, every person with sore throats doesn’t have any bacterial infection.

It is hard to differentiate between strep throat symptoms and viral infection symptoms. However, while doing a self-diagnosis, you must know that strep throat symptoms do not influence cold symptoms. Also, it does not include coughing, sneezing, or runny nose.

If you face cold symptoms, you should be sure that it is caused due to viral infection and not strep throat. You can opt for strep throat home remedies to get relief from the symptoms.

Causes And Symptoms Of Strep Throat

Strep throat infection happens in the throat and tonsils, caused by a Streptococcus bacteria group. Group A strep is contagious and can spread from person to person. If you contact an infected person who is coughing, sneezing, or touching your mouse, eyes, or nose, you will also be contaminated with this bacteria.

It is why strep throat infection seems more common in cold duration than in the summertime. During colder months, more people face infections, so group A strep can quickly spread. It can also spread from any solid surface, including glass, doorknobs, utensils, and plates.

This bacteria can become active within four to five days after contact with an infected person or strep bacteria. A typical infection symptom differs from strep throat symptoms. 

• Sore throat

• Swollen and red tonsils

• Swollen lymph nodes

• High fever, generally more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit

• Trouble swallowing

• Dark red spots inside the mouth and yellow coating over the throat and tonsils

• Headache and body aches

• Red rash on the body and non-itching. It is also a sign of scarlet fever, a severe bacterial infection.

Treatment Of Strep Throat

The standard treatment that is given to most patients is antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics from penicillin or amoxicillin are primarily used in such cases.

However, you can also say that antibiotics are the only ones to help with strep throat. The symptoms of strep throat also improve within four to five days after taking antibiotics, and they also help cut the length of the sickness to half a day.

Medical treatment is majorly given to patients to stop strep throat. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are the most useful to relieve pain related to strep throat symptoms.

Novel Probiotic

Apart from the antibiotics, a new probiotic has also been released, which is more effective than any other medicine. In 1980, a beneficial bacteria was found, which seemed to be more resistant to developing sore throats.

The S.salivarius strain, also called K12, was yielded in a search, and it is found in only 2% of people, specifically those who show a natural resistance against strep throat. It is potent enough to keep the Streptococcus pyogenes in control, but only when it has enough numbers of this bacterial strain.

The K12 bacteria develops some compounds, which are called antibiotics. They strongly inhibit some strains of disease-causing bacteria, which are responsible for strep throat in humans. So, K12 can prevent these organisms.

The type A antibiotic produced by the S. Salivarius K12 produces molecular pores in the membranes. This compound lets their content leak out into the surrounding fluid, and then they break apart from the wall, and the bacteria die. Due to the K12 probiotic, the throat reduces some secretion of the inflammatory signaling molecule IL-8. This molecule is responsible for increasing the concentrations of the antiviral compound interferon-gamma.

Children treated with S. Salivarius K12 have shown a significant reduction in the viral and bacterial sore throats.

5 Facts About Sore Throats

1. Sore throats are considered the most common problem in both adults and children.

2. Strep throat is a childhood illness that occurs less frequently in adults.

3. Sore throats occur majorly due to viruses, and they have pretty uncomfortable symptoms. However, strep throat can develop dangerous complications, including kidney disorders, retropharyngeal abscesses, and heart diseases.

4. The K12 compound found lately can fight against viral sore throats as well.

5. If you use the probiotic regularly, it can help you with dodging the winter sore throat season.

What Vitamins Help Prevent Strep Throat

The vitamins are a great option to prevent strep throat infection and boost your immune system. Let us check out the two types of vitamins that can help you to prevent strep throat.

1. Vitamin C

Vitamin C can help you to boost your immune system by significant levels. If you take Vitamin C for about 1000 milligrams, then the Vitamin C can fight infection and keep you protected. Also, if someone consumes Vitamin C, it can help them repair the damaged tissue in their throat and also help in decreasing the risk of other illnesses and infections.

However, if you take Vitamin C for more than 4000 milligrams, it can help you get rid of all the infections in your body. Vitamin C also helps you to keep your immune function properly.

To recover or prevent strep infection, you need to boost your Vitamin C consumption. Vitamin C supplementation and foods include oranges, strawberries, grapefruit, kiwi, and kale.

Strep throat typically disturbs you from swallowing foods. Make some smoothies out of these fruits if you cannot swallow their fruits.

2. Vitamin D

Research suggests that respiratory infections are someway linked with Vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, the research suggests that Vitamin D has a significant role in the immune system due to its antibacterial properties and antimicrobial defenses.

A systematic review proved that the link between Vitamin D and respiratory conditions is caused by streptococcal pharyngitis¹.

Other Strep Throat Prevention Methods: 12 RemediesThat You Can Follow

It is confirmed that if you go to the doctor for strep throat treatment, you will be handed over-prescribed medications of only antibiotics. Home remedies are the best that can try to prevent strep throat infection. However, you must consult with your healthcare provider before you choose to do anything independently.

1. Elderberry

The Elderberry extract has antibacterial and also has some antiviral effects. The extracts from elderberry can protect you from respiratory conditions during long flights. Respiratory infections are more common on flights caused by viruses and bacteria-induced respiratory infections.

Even one study showed that people with this supplement had rarer respiratory tract infections compared with other people without this supplement. Moreover, the elderberry, irrespective of the concentrations, can reduce the growth of bacteria when compared to zero elderberry concentrations.

You can discuss adding elderberry supplements to your daily routine with your caretaker. This can not only decrease upper respiratory disorders but can even increase your antioxidant intake, which is typically found in cough-drop form, syrup, and capsules.

2. Echinacea

Echinacea has many potent healing compounds and benefits. It is often known as a method to prevent the common cold. Also, it can work as an immuno-enhancing herb, which can stop spreading the bacterial conditions of strep throat. A component is also present in echinacea, along with its phytochemicals, which can restrain bacteria and viruses from entering the healthy cells of our body.

3. Raw Honey

If you consume honey daily, it can raise the levels of health-promoting antioxidants in your body. Raw honey even helps the body boost the immune system and is also one of the best in soothing strep throat.

Moreover, the healing property of honey comes from the antibacterial activity, and it also can maintain a moist wound condition. It also creates a thick layer, which acts as a barrier to the wound to prevent infection.

In addition to this, the medical honey has a vigorous bactericidal activity that can help you fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria and save you from several life-causing infections.

4. Bone Broth

The bone broth can helps you to stay hydrated, and the bonus benefit of bone broth is that it provides minerals that can help you boost your immune system. The bone broth is very easy and soothing to eat when you remain contagious with a sore throat or swollen tonsils. Significantly, it can help you with strep throat infections.

Moreover, the bone broth has some minerals easily absorbable by your body. It includes calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur. Also, it has chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine ²compounds sold as supplements that can reduce swelling and joint pain.

You can use a protein powder made explicitly from bone broth to recover from a strep throat infection. Rather than making bone broth from scratch, it is better to use protein powder. It would be best if you take warm bone broth every day.

5. Herbal Tea

You can consume herbal tea to soothe your throat. Chamomile tea can be an excellent option for you since the plant is filled with tons of antioxidants that can help you reduce your pain, congestion, redness, and swelling of the tonsils.

It can also ease your pain, and since it has anti-inflammatory properties, it can treat inflammation of the mucous membranes.

Dandelion tea is one more great option to soothe your bacterial infection in the throat. It can be constructive in treating your strep throat infections and upset stomach and even boost your immune system.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a simple way to treat your strep throat infection naturally. Apple cider vinegar has potent healing compounds. It includes acetic acid, which can kill dangerous bacteria and simultaneously help the beneficial bacteria to grow. Acetic acid can kill the unwanted bacteria if it comes in contact with apple cider vinegar.  The extracts from this source are the best natural remedies to prevent strep throat infection.

7. Gargling

If you gargle with pink Himalayan salt, it can help you reduce the extra swelling and soothe your soreness threat. Moreover, it will create an uncomfortable surrounding for the bacteria inside your mouth.

Salt increases the pH balance of your mouth though temporary, but it develops an alkaline environment which is typically hard for the bacteria to survive in such an environment.

The salt also helps in improving respiratory properties. Furthermore, it removes all the pathogens ³from the mouth when gargled with saltwater or swallowed.

8. Oil Pulling

Oil pulling has an excellent ability to reduce the presence of any strep bacteria inside your mouth. Experts ask to use this as a tool for maintaining oral health.

Coconut oil pulling is a great option to remove the bacteria from the mouth. Typically, this acts as an oral detox method, which sucks up all the toxins inside your mouth and creates a clean and germ-free environment.

Brushing your teeth is also a better option. Using it as a home remedy, you can use one to two tablespoons of coconut oil and swish it inside your mouth for around 10 to 15 minutes. Then you need to split out the coconut oil in the trash and rinse your mouth properly with fresh water.

9. Peppermint Oil

One of the best essential oils is peppermint oil which is well known for its ability against sore throat. Peppermint oil can reduce the swelling of your throat. Hence it is more often used in the treatment of respiratory infections. The peppermint oils have menthol, which is the main reason for the extraordinary sensation when consumed with a calming effect on the body.

To get benefits from this oil, drop some peppermint oil drops in a glass of water or over your toothpaste, and it would be best if you apply it internally. Also, using 2-3 drops of peppermint oil ⁴on your throat, temples, and chest gives better benefits.

10. Lemon Oil

The antibacterial and antiviral effects of lemon oil help clear the toxins ⁵out of the body. The oil extracted from the lemon can also limit the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.

For using this oil, add 2-3 drops of lemon oil to cool or lukewarm water, and then drink it. Adding it with herbal tea also gives significant benefits.

11. Thyme Oil

The immune system and the respiratory systems get support from thyme oil which is a very effective home remedy for preventing strep throat. Thyme oil is also known to respond to more than 120 strains of bacteria when patients are infected with the oral cavity, genitourinary tracts, and respiratory tract infection.

It is solid against all the clinical strains and is very effective against antibiotic⁶-resistant strains. To benefit from these essential oils, drop some drops of thyme oil into the water and then gargle. You can even drop it inside your mouth like a mouth wash.

12. Stay Away From Infected Person

It would help if you did not sneeze or even cough in public places, especially when suffering from a strep throat infection. Also, avoid sharing glasses, plates or food, and utensils for at least two or three weeks. It will help to stop spreading the bacterial infection.

Get yourself a solid and robust soap for washing your dishes and the surfaces of your bathroom and other places you touched earlier. The castile soap is an excellent natural soap that can help you prevent strep throat.

Bottom-Line

Viral infections cause most sore throats, and in these cases, you can take up the natural remedies with a healthy diet. Try to learn about what vitamins help prevent strep throat in brief.

Viral infections and other infectious diseases are often treated with natural remedies with antibacterial properties and some alternative medicine in the worst case.

Though treatment is not given appropriately for viral infections induced by severe body aches, it would be best to ask your doctor to get some natural remedies.

If your health conditions do not improve after eight to nine days, you rush to your doctor and pass through some diagnosis. Do not take any information on the internet as a substitute for informed medical advice, and you must not try anything on your own.

1. Mustafa, Zahid, and Masoumeh Ghaffari. “Diagnostic methods, clinical guidelines, and antibiotic treatment for group A streptococcal pharyngitis: a narrative review.” Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 10 (2020): 563627. ↩︎
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3. De Oliveira, David MP, et al. “Antimicrobial resistance in ESKAPE pathogens.” Clinical microbiology reviews 33.3 (2020): 10-1128. ↩︎
4. Ingrosso, Maria Rosa, et al. “Systematic review and meta‐analysis: efficacy of peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome.” Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 56.6 (2022): 932-941. ↩︎
5. Rosner, Mitchell H., et al. “Classification of uremic toxins and their role in kidney failure.” Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 16.12 (2021): 1918-1928. ↩︎
6. Larsson, D. G., and Carl-Fredrik Flach. “Antibiotic resistance in the environment.” Nature Reviews Microbiology 20.5 (2022): 257-269. ↩︎

Last Updated on February 19, 2024 by Suchi