Strep throat infections may clear without medication while others need antibiotic treatment. To get proper treatment, it is important to get properly diagnosed. Doctors may run simple lab tests to check for strep throat.
Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. Group A strep bacteria is through an infected person’s droplets who coughs or sneezes. Sharing utensils with an infected person may also make others ill.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sore throat
- A fever
- Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Headache, nausea, or vomiting
- Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck
- Sandpaper-like rash
A swab of the throat can check for group A strep bacteria. Antibiotics may be prescribed for a positive result. Antibiotics may:
- Decrease the length of time infected
- Reduce symptoms
- Help prevent infection
- Prevent more serious complications, such as tonsil and sinus infections, and acute rheumatic fever
There is no vaccine for strep throat prevention.
For answers to frequently asked questions about group A strep bacteria, click here.
