Strep Throat – Symptoms and Causes

About Strep Throat

Strep throat is a bacterial infection causing soreness and scratchiness in the throat. Many sore throats are caused by viruses, but strep accounts for only a small percentage of cases.

Untreated strep throat can cause serious issues like kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever, leading to joint pain, rashes, or heart valve damage.

Children have the highest rates of strep throat, but the infection affects people of all ages. Seeking medical attention is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment, which helps prevent complications.

Signs of Illness

Throat infections can strike unexpectedly, presenting a range of distinct and noticeable symptoms. People typically experience sharp throat pain that makes swallowing difficult.

Looking inside the mouth, you might see red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus. Tiny red spots may appear on the roof of the mouth.

Other common symptoms include:

• Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck
• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Rash
• Nausea or vomiting (especially in children)

Important to know: Having these symptoms doesn’t automatically mean you have a bacterial throat infection. Viruses can cause similar symptoms, and a proper test from a healthcare provider is necessary for diagnosis.

Some people can carry the bacteria without showing symptoms themselves, but they can still spread the infection to others.

When to See a Doctor

Contact your healthcare provider if you or your child experiences:

• Sore throat with swollen, tender lymph nodes
• Sore throat lasting more than 48 hours
• A High Fever
• Sore throat accompanied by a rash
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• No improvement after 48 hours of antibiotic treatment for diagnosed strep throat

These symptoms may indicate a more serious condition that needs medical attention. Prompt treatment helps prevent complications and speed recovery.

Why Strep Throat Happens

Strep throat occurs when a person becomes infected with Group A Streptococcus bacteria. These tiny organisms can easily spread from one person to another.

The bacteria travel through the air in tiny droplets when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes. You can catch strep throat by breathing in these droplets.

Other ways to get infected include:

• Sharing food or drinks with an infected person
• Touching surfaces with bacteria on them, then touching your face
• Direct contact with someone who has the infection

Bacteria can live on doorknobs and surfaces for a short time, allowing illness to spread without direct contact.

Risk Factors

There are two main factors that can raise your chances of getting strep throat:

• Age: Children get strep throat more often than adults.
• Seasonal: Winter and early spring have more cases, as the bacteria spread easily when people gather indoors in close contact.

Complications

Strep throat can cause serious problems if not treated with antibiotics. The bacteria may move from the throat to other body parts, causing more infections. These include:

• Infected tonsils
• Sinus infections
• Skin infections
• Blood infections
• Middle ear infections

Body’s Reaction to Infection

The body sometimes reacts strongly to strep bacteria, causing several inflammatory conditions. These may include:

1. Scarlet Fever: A bright red rash that spreads across the body.
2. Post-streptococcal Glomerulonephritis: Kidney inflammation after a strep infection.
3. Rheumatic Fever: Painful joint inflammation and heart complications.

Some research suggests a possible link between strep infections and certain behavioral or movement disorders in children.

When infected with strep, some children might show worsened symptoms of conditions like obsessive behaviors or sudden, repetitive movements. However, this connection remains under study and isn’t fully proven.

Prevention

Preventing strep infections mainly involves good hygiene practices.

Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the most effective methods.

Children should learn proper handwashing techniques or use alcohol-based sanitizers when soap is unavailable.

Teaching children to cough or sneeze into their elbow or a tissue helps reduce the spread of germs.

Avoid sharing personal items, especially the following:

• Drinking glasses
• Eating utensils
• Food and beverages

Always wash dishes in hot, soapy water or use a dishwasher to eliminate bacteria.

These simple preventive measures can protect you and your family from strep infections and other contagious illnesses.