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Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus or “group A strep.” People who are sick with strep throat are very contagious. In addition to a sore throat, symptoms can include pain when swallowing, a fever, red and swollen tonsils, tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth, or swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck. Your doctor can do a quick strep test to see if group A strep bacteria are causing your sore throat. If the test is positive, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics help you feel better sooner, prevent serious health problems, and help prevent spreading the bacteria to others. QuizKey Facts
MediaAvoid Exposure Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of germs that cause strep throat and other infections. Do not drink from the same glass, eat from the same plate, or share utensils with someone who is sick. Know the Symptoms In addition to a sore throat, symptoms of strep throat can include pain when swallowing, a fever, red and swollen tonsils, tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth, or swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck. Antibiotics Get You Well Fast If you have strep throat, antibiotics reduce your symptoms and the length of time you’re sick. Antibiotics may also prevent spreading the bacteria to others and prevent complications. Take the prescription exactly as your doctor tells you. Don’t stop taking the medicine, even if you feel better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Stay Home People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours. This will help prevent spreading the bacteria to others. Prevention Tips
Strep Throat: All You Need to KnowWorried your sore throat may be strep throat? Doctors can do a quick test to see if a sore throat is strep throat. Antibiotics can help people with strep throat feel better faster and prevent spreading it to others. Bacteria cause strep throatViruses cause most sore throats. However, strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep). How you get strep throatGroup A strep bacteria are very contagious. Generally, people spread the bacteria to others through
Rarely, people can spread group A strep bacteria through food that is not handled properly (visit CDC’s food safety page). It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep bacteria to become ill with strep throat. Respiratory dropletsGroup A strep bacteria often live in the nose and throat. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria. People can get sick if they:
Direct contactPeople can also spread group A strep bacteria from infected sores on their skin. Other people can get sick if they:
It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms. A sore throat that starts quickly, pain with swallowing, and fever are some of the common signs and symptoms of strep throat. Pain, fever, but no cough is commonIn general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of strep throat include:
Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting — especially in children. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash; it is known as scarlet fever. Some symptoms suggest a viral cause rather than group A strep The following symptoms suggest a virus is the cause of the illness instead of strep throat:
Some people are at increased riskAnyone can get strep throat, but there are some factors that can increase the risk of getting this common infection. AgeStrep throat is more common in children than adults. It is most common in children 5 through 15 years old. It is very rare in children younger than 3 years old. Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat include:
Group settingsClose contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. For example, if someone has strep throat, the bacteria often spread to other people in their household. Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Crowded settings can increase the risk of getting a group A strep infection. These settings include:
A simple test gives fast resultsA doctor will determine what type of illness you have by asking about symptoms and doing a physical exam. If they think you might have strep throat, they will swab your throat to test for strep throat. There are two types of tests for strep throat: a rapid strep test and throat culture. Rapid strep testA rapid strep test involves swabbing the throat and running a test on the swab. The test quickly shows if group A strep bacteria are causing the illness.
Throat cultureA throat culture takes time to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. While it takes more time, a throat culture sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test misses. Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated strep throat infection. For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever following a strep throat infection. Antibiotics are used for treatmentDoctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Benefits of antibiotics include:
Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours. When to return to work, school after illness People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they:
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Antibiotic dos and don’ts
You can find more guidance on taking antibiotics on CDC’s Antibiotic Do’s & Don’ts Page. Not everyone needs antibioticsSomeone who tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms (called a “carrier”) usually does not need antibiotics. They are less likely to spread the bacteria to others and very unlikely to get complications. If a carrier gets a sore throat illness caused by a virus, the rapid strep test can be positive. In these cases, it can be hard to know what is causing the sore throat. If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection. Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier. Serious complications are not commonComplications can occur after a strep throat infection. This can happen if the bacteria spread to other parts of the body. Complications can include:
Wash your hands often to help prevent germs from spreading. Protect yourself and othersPeople can get strep throat more than once. Having strep throat does not protect someone from getting it again in the future. While there is no vaccine to prevent strep throat, there are things people can do to protect themselves and others. Good hygieneThe best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating. To prevent group A strep infections, you should:
You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed. AntibioticsAntibiotics help prevent someone with strep throat from spreading the bacteria to others. When are you no longer contagious with strep throat?People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours. This will help prevent spreading the bacteria to others.
What happens if strep throat goes untreated?If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can lead to painful and inflamed joints, a specific type of rash, or heart valve damage.
Will strep go away without antibiotics?If you have strep throat—which is caused by bacteria—your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, such as penicillin. But strep throat goes away on its own in 3 to 7 days with or without antibiotics. Antibiotics may not make you well faster.
Can you get strep throat by being around someone who has it?Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. For example, if someone has strep throat, the bacteria often spread to other people in their household.
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