Strep Throat

Viruses cause most sore throats. Strep throat is different. A bacteria called group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes this painful infection in your throat and tonsils. It typically takes two to five days for symptoms to appear. During this time, you can spread strep throat to other people.

Strep throat causes inflammation that makes it harder to swallow. Your throat and tonsils will be sore and look red and swollen. White patches, streaks or pus can develop in your throat. You may see tiny red dots on the roof of your mouth. Additionally, your lymph nodes on the side of your neck may swell and hurt.

Strep throat is highly contagious. It spreads easily through direct contact with fluid from your throat or exposure to respiratory droplets when you cough or sneeze. Without treatment, strep throat can lead to dangerous health problems, including rheumatic fever, which permanently damages your heart. It’s important to seek treatment if you think you have strep throat.

While strep throat can affect anyone, only a small number of people with a sore throat have strep throat. Doctors diagnose only 1 in 10 adults and 3 in 10 children with strep throat when symptoms are apparent.

The infection is most common in children between 5 and 15. But it can affect anyone who spends time in group settings like daycares, schools or offices. Family members of anyone with strep throat are also at increased risk.

Some people with strep throat may not show any signs or symptoms. But they can still spread the infection. When symptoms develop, a sore throat and fever that both appear suddenly can be early signs. Other strep throat symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Body aches
• Chills
• Fever over 101°F
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Painful swallowing
• Rash
• Swollen, tender lymph nodes
• Tiny red spots on the back of the roof of your mouth
• Vomiting

Strep throat usually does not cause a cough. It is also possible to have any of the above symptoms but not have strep throat. So, seeking medical attention to identify your infection is essential.

If our urgent care providers think you have strep throat, they will perform a physical exam to identify any signs or symptoms. They will also suggest further testing to get the most accurate diagnosis and start any necessary treatment as quickly as possible. These tests may include:

• Rapid strep test. During this quick, painless test, our providers collect a fluid sample by gently brushing the back of your throat with a cotton swab. This in-office test can detect the presence of strep bacteria protein within 20 minutes. A positive test means you have strep throat.
• Throat culture. If your rapid strep test comes back negative, our providers may send your sample to the laboratory to double-check the results. Throat cultures sometimes catch cases that rapid tests miss. For a throat culture, lab staff will brush your fluid sample into a culture dish. They watch it for one to two days to see if strep bacteria grows.
• Molecular testing. This test is like the rapid strep test. But molecular testing also uses a fluid sample to detect strep bacteria in genetic material. This test typically provides results in under 10 minutes.

Our providers will prescribe antibiotic treatment if you test positive for strep throat.
Most courses of antibiotic treatment last 7-10 days. You may start to feel better within 48 hours, but you should finish all your medication. If you don’t, your strep throat could return and be harder to treat.

Our providers may also recommend over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms while you wait for the antibiotics to work. Pain-relieving medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can lessen throat pain and reduce your fever.

You can also take additional steps to control your symptoms while taking medication:

• Avoid irritants. Avoid any fumes or cigarette smoke that may irritate your throat.
• Drink plenty of water. Getting enough fluid can prevent dehydration and make swallowing easier.
• Eat easy-to-swallow foods. Soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt and applesauce can be easier to eat. Cold foods like frozen fruit pops can also be soothing. Avoid acidic or spicy foods.
• Gargle with warm salt water. Gargling with salt water (8 ounces of water mixed with ¼ teaspoon of salt) can reduce throat pain.
• Get enough sleep. Getting enough rest can help your body fight off the infection.
• Use a humidifier. A cool-mist humidifier adds moisture to the air and relieves the discomfort in your throat. Be sure you clean the humidifier daily to prevent any bacteria or mold growth.

Getting prompt treatment for strep throat is important. Without medical care, strep bacteria can spread throughout your body and cause complications, such as:

• Abscesses. Pockets of pus can develop around your tonsils.
• Ear or sinus infections. Bacteria can cause swelling behind your eardrum or in your sinuses.
• Invasive streptococcal infection. Strep bacteria can spread to other tissue in your body, causing potentially life-threatening conditions like necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) and toxic shock syndrome.
• Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. This rare condition triggers kidney inflammation roughly 10 days after strep throat symptoms appear.
• Rheumatic fever. Inflammation can develop in your heart, blood vessels and joints.
• Scarlet fever. A red, bumpy rash can grow all over your body.

Maintaining good hygiene is the best way to avoid getting strep throat. Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Always wash your hands before you eat and after you cough or sneeze.

These additional steps can also help prevent the spread of strep throat:

• Cough or sneeze into a tissue if you can. Throw the used tissue away immediately.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow if you don’t have a tissue.
• Don’t share cups, plates or utensils if you’ve been sick or with anyone who is ill.
• Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if water and soap aren’t available.