What's Going Around: Recognizing Strep Throat, Diabetic Ulcers

Each Thursday, we talk to doctors and nurses from our partners at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health to let you know what's going around.

This week, it's strep throat, and an increase in treatment for diabetic patients.

Dr. Kathryn Zackery at the Sapulpa Indian Health Center said strep throat is highly contagious. You can pass it by coughing and sneezing and hand-to-hand contact.

Frequent hand washing helps cut down the spread of infection.

Symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, white areas on the tonsils, or redness at the back of the throat.

Strep is a bacterial infection and needs to be treated with antibiotics. If you do have it, throw away your toothbrush and avoid sharing drinks and food with others

10/10/2013 Related Story: What's Going Around: Doctors Say Flu Season Is Ramping Up

Dr. Carl Miller, a podiatrist at the Okemah Clinic is seeing a number of diabetic patients with diabetic ulcers and foot problems.

Diabetes can cause a loss of nerve sensation, and patients will rub a sore on their foot or feet and not know that they have an ulcer developing.

Diabetic patients with infected wounds will, at times, have symptoms similar to the flu.

If treatment is not started quickly, it can lead to amputation or, on rare occasions, can lead to death.

If you have questions about your diabetes there are wound clinics in Okemah, Okmulgee and Coweta.

What's Going Around?