Healthy Living

Do I Have Strep Throat?

What is strep throat?

Strep throat is the most common form of bacterial infections of the throat and tonsils, resulting in inflammation and irritation.

How are throat infections contracted?

Have a question aboutStrep Throat?Ask a doctor now

Causes of strep throat

Strep throat is caused by different types of Streptococcus bacteria. The severity of the condition differs from one type of bacteria to another. Not all sore throats are caused by streptococcus. Viral infections also result in sore throat. But viral infections are often associated with symptoms of cold like sneezing, coughing and runny nose.

Symptoms of strep throat

Sudden and severe sore throat
Pain while swallowing
Sudden fever over 101^oF
Swelling in the lymph nodes and tonsils
Chills
Loss of appetite
Headache
White patches at the back of throat

Some of the less common symptoms include:

Red rashes in the skin
Vomiting
Body aches

Strep throat spreads easily through contact and tiny droplets in air that contains the bacteria which was let out by the infected person while sneezing and coughing. The person who breathed the infected droplets may show the symptoms within two to five days.

Diagnosis of strep throat

A physical examination and strep test helps in the diagnosis of strep throat. A throat culture is recommended if the rapid strep test is negative but the patient have symptoms of strep throat. For throat culture, the doctor may take swabs from the back of your throat.

1 of 6

2 of 6

3 of 6

4 of 6

5 of 6

6 of 6

What Does Strep Throat Look Like?

Warning

Potentially graphic imagery ahead

White Spots

Patients with strep throat often have white spots in the back of their throats and on their tongues. These white spots are a very common sign of the infection.

Swollen Tonsils

Another common symptom of strep throat is swollen tonsils. This patient presented very swollen and inflamed tonsils.

Sore Throat

When a child has a sore throat, it is often a good idea to go to the doctor for a strep test. Sore throat is the first symptom of the infection, and strep is very common in children.

Redness in the Throat

With a sore throat, it is common for there to also be redness and inflammation. This patient had a very red and swollen throat.

Splotches in the Mouth

Strep bacteria typically leaves splotches in the mouth. When a doctor sees a mouth that looks like this, it is common for him or her to test for strep.

Treatment of strep throat

Strep throat generally goes within five to seven days without any treatment. Antibiotics are usually recommended, and this usually reduces the time that a patient is able to spread the disease to others. It also reduces the chance of spreading the infection to other locations. Antibiotics generally do not make recovery faster in strep infection. Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen will help in lowering fever and pain.

How to prevent strep throat

Avoiding contact with someone who has the infection is the best way to prevent strep infection. Sharing utensils, toothbrushes and drinking from the same glass increases the chances of infection and hence should be deliberately avoided. Washing hands regularly is a good habit and helps to reduce the chances of infection as the bacteria may live for a short period of time on door knobs, faucets and other objects.

If you have infection, use tissue paper instead of handkerchief to avoid spreading the infection to others. Ensure not to sneeze or cough on others. Take a day off from work or school so as not to spread the bacteria.