Strep throat symptoms.
Strep throat, a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils, causes a sore or scratchy throat, as well as white patches on your tonsils.
It is highly contagious during the incubation period — the two to five days after you’re infected and before symptoms appear – and stays contagious until your symptoms resolve, according to Jake Mefford, PA, clinical director for OSF OnCall Urgent Care clinics.
“Hand hygiene and disinfecting commonly used surfaces frequently can decrease the risk of transmission of strep,” Jake said.
Jake took time to answer more questions about strep:
A. Strep throat refers to the inflammation of the pharynx (pharyngitis), and/or tonsils (tonsillitis) caused by a group A streptococcus infection, This is just one of the many types of streptococcus bacteria.
Q. What does strep look like?
A. Common findings of the throat include redness, swelling and exudates (white patches).
Q. What are symptoms of strep?
A. In addition to a sore throat, someone with strep may experience a fever, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, enlarged lymph nodes and rash.
Q. How is strep diagnosed?
A. The tonsils are examined and a sample of fluid may be taken from the back of the throat using a soft swab. The sample can be checked right away for the bacteria that cause strep throat. If the initial test is negative, the sample may be sent to a lab for further testing with a culture.
Q. How long does strep last?
A. Strep throat typically resolves in three to five days if untreated. Despite the short duration, antibiotic treatment is recommended to reduce the risk of complications. Symptoms typically resolve within one to three days following the start of antibiotics.
Q. How is strep spread?
A. Strep throat is transmitted via droplets. These can be tiny airborne droplets after a cough or sneeze or from surfaces that are contaminated with droplets.
Q. How is it different than a regular sore throat?
A. There are many different types of bacteria and viruses that can cause a sore throat. Many of the symptoms overlap between the causative agents and therefore it is very difficult to differentiate between strep pharyngitis and other causes of pharyngitis without testing. A cough is not a common symptom with strep throat and may indicate a different cause of sore throat.
Q. How should strep be treated?
A. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be used for discomfort and fever. Stay hydrated, rest and maintain a soft diet for comfort.
Q. Are antibiotics used to treat strep?
A. Antibiotics are used with the following goals in mind: reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, prevent acute and delayed complications and prevent the spread to others.
Q. What are complications related to strep?
A. Most cases of strep throat resolve without complications. However, complications can include blood stream bacterial infections, abscesses in the tissue surrounding the throat, ear infections and sinus infections. Other complications following the initial strep throat infection include acute rheumatic fever, kidney issues and psychiatric disorders.
Q. Is medical attention always needed for strep?
A. If strep pharyngitis is suspected, a strep test is recommended.
Q. Are there home remedies that can be used to treat strep?
A. In addition to a soft diet to avoid irritating the throat, individuals with strep may find the following soothing:
- Cold or warm beverages (honey should not be given to children less than 1 year old)
- Cold or frozen desserts such as popsicles, sucking on ice, sucking on hard candy (not recommended for children under 5 years old)
- Gargling warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon per 8 ounces of water)
Last Updated: April 13, 2022
Overview
What is strep throat?
Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils (glands in the back of the throat) that is caused by a bacterium known as group A Streptococcus. Strep throat spreads from person to person very easily, especially among family members. It is common in school-aged children but also occurs in adults.
Strep throat can very rarely cause more serious illnesses, such as rheumatic fever, a disease that can harm the heart valves. So, it's important that strep throat is appropriately diagnosed and treated. With proper treatment, strep throat is usually cured within 10 days.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms of strep throat?
The symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sudden sore throat
- Red tonsils that have white spots on them
- Pain when swallowing
- Fever
- Swollen neck glands
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
How does strep throat spread?
Strep throat is spread by:
- Close contact with an infected person
- Sharing an infected person's personal items
Diagnosis and Tests
How do I know if my child has strep throat?
Visit your healthcare provider if the symptoms suggest strep throat. Your child will be examined and may be given a strep test (throat culture). Viral illnesses can have the same symptoms as strep throat. This is why it's important that a throat swab be done to confirm the presence of the Strep bacteria in the throat.
What is a strep test?
A strep test looks for Streptococcus bacteria in the throat. The test is painless and takes very little time. The tip of a cotton swab is used to wipe the back of your throat. The swab is then tested.
The rapid strep test takes approximately 20 minutes. If the test is positive (the Streptococcus bacteria is found), you have strep throat. If the test is negative (no signs of Streptococcus), the doctor may send the throat swab to a laboratory to double-check the results. Some doctors may not do a rapid strep test and instead just send the throat swab to the laboratory.
Management and Treatment
How is strep throat treated?
Strep throat is treated using antibiotics. An antibiotic is a type of medicine that kills the bacteria that cause the infection.
Antibiotics are often taken as pills or given as a shot. Penicillin and amoxicillin are common antibiotics used to treat strep throat. Other antibiotics are ordered for people who are allergic to penicillin.
Your healthcare provider may give your child a shot or prescribe an antibiotic in either pill or liquid form. The pills or liquid are usually taken for 10 days. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions. Your child should take all of the medication, even if he or she feels better. The bacteria can still be alive even if your child feels okay.
What can be done to relieve the pain of strep throat?
Your child should:
- Drink soothing liquids, such as warm tea.
- Take a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®).
Aspirin should not be given to children. Aspirin can cause Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening illness, in children and adolescents who have fevers.
Other sore throats don't need special medicine, so why does strep throat?
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, which cannot be cured with medicine; you can only relieve the aches and pains. Viruses heal on their own and cannot be cured with antibiotics or other medicines.
Strep throat is caused by a bacterium. Infections caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. Strep throat can lead to more serious illnesses, so it's important to get it treated.
Can I take antibiotics I already have in the house for strep throat?
You should never take medicines left over from an earlier illness or give a leftover medicine to your children. Leftover antibiotics can also make strep throat more difficult to treat and can cause serious side effects.
Outlook / Prognosis
How soon will my child feel better?
Your child should feel better within a day or two after treatment begins.
When can my child return to school after treatment for strep throat?
Your child can return to regular activities, including school attendance, 24 hours after receiving the shot or beginning the antibiotic, if their temperature is normal.
Living With
What if my child is not getting better after being treated for strep throat?
If your child is not getting better, let your healthcare provider know right away. Your child should not stop taking their medicine, unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
Call your healthcare provider if your child is not improving one to two days after starting the antibiotic. You should also call if your child has any of these symptoms:
- Fever one or two days after feeling better
- Nausea or vomiting
- Earache
- Headache
- Skin rash
- Cough
- Swollen glands
- Painful joints
- Shortness of breath
- Dark urine, rash, or chest pain (may occur three to four weeks later)