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10 Signs Of Strep Throat
If you or your child suddenly feel a fiery, stabbing pain in the throat that makes swallowing difficult and unpleasant,…
If you or your child suddenly feel a fiery, stabbing pain in the throat that makes swallowing difficult and unpleasant, you may have a case of strep throat.
This respiratory illness is more prevalent in children than adults, but it can affect anyone at any age. While it's more likely to occur in the winter, strep throat can strike throughout the year.
Read on for everything you need to know about strep throat.
What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called group A streptococcus, or GAS for short.
This common — but serious — ailment resulted in an estimated 27,300 cases in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
What Are the Symptoms of Strep Throat?
Many viruses can trigger a sore throat, so it's not always obvious when you have strep.
Common signs and symptoms to look out for include:
1. Sore throat
The condition's hallmark symptom is a very sore throat, medically known as pharyngitis. It typically starts suddenly and can be intense. This throat pain is sometimes one-sided and may be accompanied by a bulging appearance in the throat or neck along with a stiff neck.
2. Painful swallowing
Because the tissues in the throat become inflamed and swollen, this can make swallowing difficult and very painful.
3. Absence of cough
With a common cold caused by a viral infection, you'll typically have a cough. But with strep throat, this is less likely, making a strep infection more identifiable.
4. Absence of other flu-like symptoms
Nasal congestion, runny nose and diarrhea are more commonly associated with viruses than a strep infection and are likely to be absent during a strep infection.
5. Red or swollen tonsils
The tonsils, which are two lymph nodes located on either side of the back of your throat, are part of your immune system and the first line of defense when there's an infection in the throat. If you have strep, your tonsils may also show white patches or streaks of pus.
6. Tiny red spots
Small red spots may be visible along the back of the roof of the mouth.
7. Swollen lymph nodes
The lymph nodes on either side of your neck may show signs of battling an infection in your throat by swelling and becoming tender.
8. Headache or abdominal pain
Headache and stomach pain are common with strep throat. While it's less common in adults than children, you may also experience nausea or vomiting.
9. Fever and/or chills
Pain and fever without a cough may signal a strep infection.
10. Stridor and voice changes
Some people experience a thick, muffled voice, called a hot potato voice, or stridor — a high-pitched respiratory sound that develops when the throat tightens or an upper airway is obstructed. Wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath can also occur as inflammation in the airways causes swelling and narrowing of the airways.
[READ: Best Ways to Bring Down a Fever.]
Is Strep Throat Contagious?
Yes, strep throat is contagious.
The infection is typically passed through respiratory droplets when a person with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. The bacteria can survive on surfaces — such as door knobs, counters, utensils, cell phones, keyboards and toilet handles — and can spread when a person comes in contact with a contaminated item.
As with other upper airway infections, patients are most contagious in the early stages of the infection.
"It can take anywhere from two to five days to start showing symptoms once exposed," explains Dr. Barbara Bawer, assistant clinical professor in the department of family and community medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. "If a person is not taking antibiotics, they can stay contagious for two to three weeks."
Starting a course of antibiotics usually curtails contagiousness within 24 to 48 hours.
[READ: Can You Drink on Antibiotics? The Truth About Mixing Antibiotics and Alcohol]
How Is Strep Throat Diagnosed?
To diagnose strep throat, you need to visit your primary care provider or an urgent care clinic for timely assessment, which will include a rapid strep test or throat culture. Both types of tests require using a swab to collect mucus from inside the throat for testing.
"The culture takes longer but can sometimes catch strep infections missed by the rapid swab test," Bawer notes.
[READ: How Do I Find the Best Pediatrician for My Child?]
How Is Strep Throat Treated?
If you or your child test positive, the infection needs to be treated with antibiotics to prevent complications. A 10-day course of penicillin or amoxicillin are the most commonly used treatments. If you're allergic to penicillin, your provider may prescribe a Z-pack (azithromycin) or another antibiotic.
Make sure you complete the entire course of treatment as directed by your doctor. Stopping the medication early can lead to a rebound infection and the development of drug-resistant strains that are much harder to treat.
If you don't feel better quickly and your sore throat persists, you may have a viral infection, which can typically take about a week to clear up.
"Most cases of pharyngitis are due to respiratory viruses, which do not respond to antibiotics," says Dr. David Weiss, an internal medicine physician with the Torrance Memorial Medical Center in California.
How Can I Soothe Strep Throat Pain?
When strep is correctly diagnosed and treated, relief usually comes quickly.
"Most people with strep throat notice they feel significantly better within one to two days of starting antibiotics," says Dr. Rajsree Nambudripad, an integrative medicine specialist with Providence St. Jude Medical Center in Orange County, California.
However, while antibiotics usually work quickly, you may need some relief before they start to take effect.
To make symptoms less painful, experts recommend:
— Staying hydrated. Drink plenty of liquids, especially if fever is present, to prevent dehydration. Avoid orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemonade or other acidic beverages, which can irritate a sore throat. Instead, opt for soups, sweetened tea or hot chocolate, which can be more soothing.
— Taking over-the-counter medications. OTC medications — like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) — can help bring down fever and reduce pain. Make sure to follow the package directions on how much to take and when.
Your primary care provider or pediatrician is your best source of information on when you can return to normal activities.
"Most kids can go back to school when they've taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours and no longer have a fever," says Dr. Amanda Salter, a pediatrician in the Children's Hospital of Orange County Primary Care Network in California.
How Serious Is Strep Throat?
Left untreated, strep throat can lead to significant complications.
"The danger with strep throat is that the infection can spread to local soft tissues, potentially causing an abscess, as well as spreading to the sinuses and middle ear," Weiss explains.
In some rare instances, it can lead to meningitis and bacteremia when it spreads to the blood.
Other complications can include:
— Scarlet fever
— Skin and blood infections
— Pneumonia
— Heart problems
— Kidney inflammation and disease
— Arthritis
Bawer recommends reserving a visit to the emergency department for more severe cases that include:
— An inability to swallow or breathe
— Joint pain
— Rash
— Abdominal pain, usually with nausea and vomiting
— A fever lasting more than two days while you're on antibiotics
How Can I Prevent the Spread of Strep Throat?
Even if you're not certain whether someone else has an active strep infection, you should always try to limit contact with sneezes, coughs and other fluids that may transmit strep and other common viruses and illness-causing bacteria.
Remember the following:
— Wash up. Regular handwashing with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of bacteria.
— Cover up. Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing can help prevent respiratory droplets from spreading to others.
— Avoid others. Individuals diagnosed with strep throat should avoid close contact with others until they have completed at least 24 hours of antibiotic treatment and are fever-free.
— Use disinfectants. Regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces can help prevent the spread of bacteria in shared spaces.
— Start fresh. Give your child a new toothbrush after their antibiotic treatment starts and they're no longer contagious.
— Seek care. Receiving prompt medical attention for symptoms of strep throat can help prevent complications and reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.
More from U.S. News
11 Ways to Recover From a Sore Throat
Common Childhood Respiratory Diseases
13 Health Superstitions to Reconsider
10 Signs of Strep Throat originally appeared on usnews.Com
Update 05/20/24: This story was previously published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
Strep Throat: Signs And Treatment
Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by a bacteria called group A streptococcus, which is also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. This bacteria lives in the nose and throat. You can get the infection from someone who is carrying strep A bacteria or is sick from it.
Anyone can get strep throat, but it's most common in children and teens.
Strep throat is most common in children and teens. However, anyone can get it, especially those who come into frequent contact with children or who live or work in crowded places. (Photo credit: E+/Getty Images)
Strep throat vs. Sore throat
A sore throat is the main sign you or your child has strep. However, allergies, dry air, sinus drainage, colds, and other viruses can cause a sore throat too.
Signs that the infection might be viral rather than caused by strep bacteria include:
Strep throat typically appears as pus or inflammation at the back of your throat. While you can usually treat sore throats caused by something other than strep on your own, it's important to see a doctor if you think you have strep throat.
Viral infections cause most sore throats, but strep throat is a bacterial infection.
Is strep throat contagious?
The bacteria that cause strep throat pass easily from person to person through close contact. Strep throat spreads when someone who has the infection coughs or sneezes, spraying droplets filled with bacteria into the air.
You can get strep throat if you:
Strep throat contagious period
When you get infected with strep throat, you typically start to show symptoms about 2-5 days after you were exposed to the bacteria.
You can stay contagious for up to a month if you don't get treated. Antibiotics can prevent the infection from spreading. People who take antibiotics stop being contagious after about 24 hours.
Strep throat without tonsils
Strep throat typically impacts your tonsils and throat. You can still get strep throat if you don't have tonsils, but you will probably get it less frequently and your symptoms may be milder.
Can you get strep throat twice?
Yes. You are not immune to getting strep throat again if you've had it before, and there is no vaccine to prevent it.
With strep, the sore throat comes on quickly and is more likely to cause these other symptoms. Call your doctor if you or a child in your care has the following:
White spots on the throat
If you have strep throat, the telltale white patches, streaks, or spots on your throat are pus and indicate infection.
Strep skin rash
Scarlet fever, which sometimes develops in people with strep throat, causes a bright red rash that spreads over most of the body. Scarlet fever mostly affects children between the ages of 5 and 15. Once considered serious, it's now easily treated with antibiotics. However, if left untreated, scarlet fever may damage the heart, kidneys, or other organs.
Strep throat and cough
Having a cough with your sore throat is a key way doctors know you don't have strep throat. If you have a cough with your sore throat, it's most likely a viral condition rather than strep throat, a bacterial infection.
To see whether you have strep throat, contact your health care professional. They will ask about your or your child's symptoms. The only sure way to tell strep from viruses that cause a sore throat is to do a test.
Strep throat test
There are two kinds of strep throat tests:
Rapid strep test. It can identify a case in just a few minutes. The doctor will gently hold down your or your child's tongue with a depressor. Then, they will swipe a cotton swab around the back of the throat.
You'll get the results in 20 minutes or less. If the test is positive, which means strep is there, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat it.
If the test is negative, that means they didn't find strep bacteria. Your doctor might send the sample to a lab for a follow-up test that takes longer.
A rapid strep test can be positive even if you have a sore throat that's caused by a virus. It can be difficult to tell what's causing the sore throat in that situation because you're carrying the bacteria and a virus. If you keep getting a sore throat after taking antibiotics, you could have a viral throat infection and be a strep throat carrier. You might be less likely to spread it to other people, though.
Throat culture. The doctor will rub a swab over the throat and tonsils to be sent to the lab. If you or your child has strep throat, the streptococci bacteria will grow in it.
It usually takes about 2 days to get results from a throat culture. It can confirm whether it's strep throat or not.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause the infection. Most treatments last about 10 days. The medicine can make symptoms go away faster and help prevent complications.
If you or your child has a positive test but no symptoms, you're probably just a carrier. In that case, you're less likely to spread the bacteria to others and unlikely to have complications. So, you probably won't need antibiotics. Your doctor can let you know if you need them or not.
If the strep test is negative, a virus likely caused the sore throat. Antibiotics won't be needed because these medications don't kill viruses.
You can take medications to ease the pain of strep throat and lower fever, including over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Don't give aspirin to children or teens. It can cause a rare but dangerous condition called Reye's syndrome.
Antibiotics for strep throat
The antibiotics penicillin and amoxicillin are the common treatment for strep throat. If you or your child are allergic to penicillin, then a class of drugs called cephalosporins (such as cephalexin and cefadroxil) may be used. Most oral antibiotics are usually taken for 10 days. There is also the option of a one-dose penicillin shot.
Make sure you or your child takes all of the doses. Stopping the medicine too early can leave some bacteria alive. These can make you or your child sick again. Be sure to tell the doctor if you or your child is allergic to any type of antibiotics.
Strep throat treatment without antibiotics
Treating strep throat with antibiotics is strongly recommended, as they can reduce the severity of your illness, limit contagiousness, and prevent complications. Not taking antibiotics, or failing to take all of them as prescribed, can lead to serious complications.
How long does strep throat last?
With antibiotics, you or your child should feel better within a couple of days. Call your doctor if that's not the case. After treatment, you should be less contagious in about a day. If you don't get treated with antibiotics, you can remain contagious for several weeks.
There are several things you can do at home to lessen pain and make you feel more comfortable:
The best way to avoid strep is to stay away from anyone who looks or sounds sick. Signs of strep throat can include:
Try not to share any personal items with someone who is sick. These include:
If you have strep, here are some things you or your child can do to avoid getting sick again:
Strep complications are rare today, thanks to better diagnosis and treatment. But untreated strep throat can cause serious diseases, such as:
Other strep complications involve an inflammatory response in different parts of your body, including:
Another rare complication, which is not well-understood, is a condition called PANDAS, which stands for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections. It usually involves developing the tics and habits of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) after a strep infection. Symptoms of OCD can worsen after a strep infection, too.
Guttate psoriasis, a skin condition in which teardrop scales appear on the surface of the skin, is another potential complication. The scales may be red or silver in color and can be itchy.
Strep throat is a common and easily spread bacterial infection caused by bacteria group A Streptococcus, which develops within days of exposure. Symptoms include pain when swallowing, swollen and red tonsils, and fever. Treatment with antibiotics can clear up strep throat within days, easing symptoms, and reducing the risk of strep throat's spread and complications. Left untreated, strep bacteria can travel and cause infection in other areas of your body including your sinuses, tonsils, skin, middle ear, and blood.
Can strep throat go away on its own?
Strep throat will go away on its own after about a week. However, antibiotics will resolve your symptoms faster, make you less contagious, and reduce the risk of complications.
Can adults get strep?
Strep throat most commonly occurs in children aged 5 to 15. However, anyone of any age can get strep under certain conditions. Usually, these are settings where adults come into close contact with children such as day care centers and schools, or crowded settings such as military bases, jails, or homeless shelters.
What over-the-counter medicine can I take for strep throat?
To ease your sore throat and reduce fever, take over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). However, don't give your child aspirin for fever, as this has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition for children and teenagers.
Can I get rid of strep throat overnight?
No. But a course of antibiotics should help you feel better within 48 hours. Until then, ease your sore throat with pain-relieving over-the-counter medicines.
What should you eat when you have strep throat?
To ease swallowing pain, drink plenty of water and eat easy-to-swallow foods such as broth, applesauce, yogurt, and soft-cooked eggs. Eating cold foods such as popsicles, sherbet, or frozen yogurt might also soothe your throat. Avoid spicy or acidic foods.
How To Spot The Signs And Symptoms Of Throat Cancer
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"The telltale signs are not generally silent but can take a while to be noticed," warns Dr Naomi Vaughan, a GP with a practice in Harrow, north-west London.
Vaughan says these include:
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Dr Vaughan advises anyone living with any, or a combination, of these symptoms for more than three weeks to see a GP, especially if they are a smoker or a drinker.
"If you feel something is not as it should be, speak to your doctor," says Vaughan, who has been practising for over 20 years. "Working in a medium-sized practice of around 11,500 patients, we refer about eight people a month as suspected head and neck cancers. I can't give exact figures, but in general about 8-10 per cent of cancer referrals turn out to have cancer."
Curtis went through radiotherapy, chemotherapy and two surgeries. Now, alongside his wife Sharon, he works tirelessly as the chief executive of The Swallows, the Blackpool-based charity he founded in 2012, raising awareness and offering support to thousands across the world.
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Curtis survived his stage four cancer diagnosis, but every year 4,100 people die from head and neck cancer. That's 11 every day.
The prognosis is good if diagnosis comes early. "If caught early – stage one or stage two – the five-year survival rate is upwards of 80 per cent," says Chris Elkington, the chairman of Head and Neck Cancer UK. "If caught at a later stage, this drops to around 50 per cent."
However, Claire Barber, the chairman of the British Association of Head and Neck Oncology Nurses, and clinical nurse specialist in head, neck and thyroid cancers at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, has seen great progress in survival rates during her 30-year career.
"When I first started, if anybody had a throat cancer which had spread to another part of the body, such as the lungs, the average length of life was something between nine and 15 months, whereas now patients are living years down the line."
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While scientists and clinicians don't know exactly what triggers the mutation causing throat cancer, there are common risk factors that can increase chances of developing it. Some major factors are:
"HPV infection is the leading driver in the growing number of diagnoses," warns Tamara Kahn, the chief executive of Oracle Cancer Trust. "These cancers are presenting in younger people and although historically it has been more men, there are also increasing rates of women also being diagnosed with throat cancers."
"Twenty years ago we recognised an uptick in oropharyngeal cancer caused by the HPV virus," explains Prof Vinidh Paleri, a consultant head and neck surgeon at The Royal Marsden Hospitals and director of the International Centre for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer.
"Studies across America, UK, Europe and other places have shown that between 50 per cent and 90 per cent of cancers in the oropharynx can be caused by the HPV virus. It's 70 per cent in the UK. Interestingly, this cancer, compared to all other head and neck cancers, seems to arise in the younger, male population. That's something we didn't see before."
Historically, a typical patient was a male smoker or heavy drinker in their 60s or 70s. On the upside, HPV-linked cases generally respond much better to treatment than those that are not HPV-related.
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At 43, Jamie Rae was a globetrotting businessman when in May 2010 he was diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer caused by HPV. After finishing his treatment, Rae launched the Throat Cancer Foundation, campaigning for the HPV vaccine – which has been available to Year 8 girls since 2008 – to be rolled out to schoolboys.
"I never wanted other men to suffer the way I did, so that was my number one objective, to get boys vaccinated," says Rae.
"It took the best part of six years to convince the Government to do it."
From September 2019, the vaccine has been offered to Year 8 boys. However, in 2022 only 52 per cent of boys and 56 per cent of girls were fully vaccinated in the UK. A higher awareness of the HPV vaccine will go a long way to eradicating HPV-related cancers and, as Prof Paleri hopes, "eventually getting rid of these tumours by 2060".
Also, while it's not always possible to prevent throat cancer, informed lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, drinking sparingly, eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise will help.
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To check for throat cancer, you may have a:
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"This is determined by factors such as staging, location of tumour and a patient's overall health," says Barber.
Options include:
Depending on the cancer's severity, some radical surgeries may be performed, such as:
Prof Paleri is spearheading transoral robotic surgery across the UK, a less invasive treatment of head and neck cancers. "The treatments are quite toxic, quite brutal," he explains. "Any progress we can make to reduce their toxicity is so important and that's where robotic surgery comes in."
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"Patients often have a very challenging post-treatment quality of life," says Barber. "Each treatment brings its own set of potential problems and side effects. Some are short-lived, but some never go away. It's unlike any other cancer because it affects the ability to eat and drink, swallow, talk and communicate."
Side effects include:
Speech and language therapists help patients relearn how to speak, and swallow safely again. Anxiety and depression commonly extend beyond treatment, and counselling with a dedicated head and neck counsellor or clinical psychologist is advised.
"Some people endure significant weight loss," Barber explains, "and require tube feeding for many months after treatment."
"Throat cancer is one of the worst treatment pathways for cancer," says Curtis. "The only good thing is the majority survive, but we survive with side effects."
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For more help and support, visit Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Swallows support group, the Throat Cancer Foundation, HANCUK or the British Association of Head & Neck Oncologists
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