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Hey everyone, I'm here with some interesting science stuff just like I promised in my introductory post. This is a post for our health, lets take a few minutes to dive into the world of science.
I'm sure most of us have had sore throat at a point in our lives, and we usually think its harmless because it usually clears up on its own after a few days. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you but thats not entirely true. Sore throat can actually be very dangerous if left untreated.
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Sore throat is caused by a bacteria. The bacteria usually responsible for sore throat is beta hemolytic streptococcus. There is a protein called protein M which is present on the surface of this bacteria. The same protein is present on the surface of the kidneys and the heart. when sore throat is left untreated, the body produces antibodies(soldiers) to fight against the infection. the antibodies are supposed to attack and destroy the protein M on the bacteria surface. However because there is also protein M on the surface of the heart and kidneys, the antibodies attack these as well when they come into contact.
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This can lead to a condition called post streptococcal glomerulonephritis(inflammation of the kidney). This can be a very severe condition and can even lead to chronic renal failure in some cases.
post streptococcal glomerulonephritis develops 1-2 weeks after untreated throat infection. Some symptoms may include:
Decreased urine output
hematuria(blood in urine)
swelling of feet, ankles, face)
The good news is that all this can be prevented if throat infections are detected early and treated with prescribed antibiotics.
I hope I have been able to change some lives with this post. I will be back soon with more. Till then, take care and don't forget to treat your sore throat. Thanks for reading. Peace✌️