How to Prevent Strep Throat

Strep throat is caused by tiny bacteria found on the throat and skin. You can get strep throat when a sick person sneezes on you, blows his nose nearby, or the two of you share a fork, spoon or straw. To prevent strep throat, here are several precautions you can take.

Instructions

1. Cover your mouth. The person coughing needs to cover his mouth and you can stay away and cover your mouth as well. Covering one's mouth includes covering it with a disposable cough catcher like a tissue. Give a sick person a small box of tissues to carry in his pocket.

2. Ask the person to throw their own tissues away. This includes your children. Bring a small trash can in the car and place the trash can near the sick person and tell him to throw away the tissue. Do not handle the tissue yourself.

3. Wash your hands. Hands carry a large percentage of the strep throat bacteria. Wash your hands often, especially before you eat or cook food. Wash your hands after touching the infected person. Hand sanitizers are handy and can kill bacteria, but should not be used as a substitute for hand washing.

4. Clean scrapes and sores. Carry Neosporin in your purse. The cuts can get infected with the strep bacteria as well. Keep your wounds clean.

5. Take vitamins daily. Vitamins will boost your body's immunity and allow you to fight off those crazy little bacteria before they get you.