Strep throat is very contagious. Anybody can get it, but most cases are in school-age kids and teens ages 5 to 15. Infections are common during the school year, with peaks in winter and early spring, when big groups of kids and teens are in close contact.
You may see very small, red bumps at the back of your child's mouth, on the roof of their mouth, or on their tonsils. Their tonsils may be red and swollen. The most pronounced symptom, of course, is a very sore throat. It likely hurts to swallow and your child may sound hoarse.
Symptoms of Strep Throat Infection
A young child who does not want favorite foods may have a sore throat. They may also start to cry during feedings. Other symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Cough, hoarseness, red eyes, and runny nose are not seen with Strep throat.
If your child is diagnosed with strep throat, he will be prescribed antibiotics, such as penicillin or amoxicillin. An antibiotic will help reduce the duration of symptoms caused by strep throat, as well as decreasing the risk of rare but serious complications of the bacterial infection, such as acute rheumatic fever.
Strep throat is most common in kids between the ages of 5 and 15. Certain strains of strep throat can cause a red rash known as scarlet fever or a skin infection called impetigo. Luckily, antibiotics can speed up the recovery process and reduce the amount of time a person's contagious.
That's good news because sometimes strep throat can get worse and cause problems with other parts of a kid's body. For example, untreated strep can cause kidney problems or heart problems from a disease called rheumatic (say: roo-MA-tick) fever.
Strep A infections are more common in children, but adults can also sometimes get them. Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics. But rarely, the infection can cause serious problems.
Although strep throat usually gets better without treatment, some children can get complications if they are not treated. Children get better faster when treated with an antibiotic. Your doctor will decide if an antibiotic is needed.
Yes. Strep throat is contagious. You can pass the strep infection to other people until you have been treated appropriately with an antibiotic. Children who have strep throat should not go back to school or daycare until their fever has gone away and they have taken an antibiotic for at least 24 hours.
Children who are in close contact with others, such as in school or daycare, are at a higher risk of contracting the infection. Children who develop strep throat repeatedly may have contact with a carrier of strep, likely at home or in a child care setting — or they may be strep carriers themselves.
A viral sore throat is typically accompanied by other cold-like symptoms, such as cough, sneeze, runny nose and a hoarse or raspy voice. “A strep infection can make it feel very painful to swallow, and often comes with fever of 101-degrees or higher,” said Schairer.
A common misconception is that if a child has tested positive for strep, household members should also be tested. Medically, only patients who have symptoms should be tested unless other circumstances arise. Testing and treatment is not recommended for family members or close contacts unless they are ill.
Throat pain that usually comes on quickly. Painful swallowing. Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus. Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)
Signs that suggest your child might have Strep throat are:
Fever within the last 24 hours. White spots at the back of their throat (pus on their tonsils) Very large or red tonsils.
Caused by the group A streptococcus bacteria, strep throat is an infection that requires prompt treatment, particularly in children over the age of 3. Left untreated, strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever, a serious illness that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart.
Your child can spread strep throat to others until 24 hours after he or she starts taking antibiotics. Keep your child out of school or daycare until 1 full day after he or she starts taking antibiotics.
“Strep is as contagious as any virus, if not more. It's rare as far as bacteria goes in that it can be spread by droplets and live on inanimate surfaces for a period of time.” Brunner adds that strep is definitely more common when children are congregating and the weather keeps people inside.
People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, daycare, or activities until they no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours.
Strep throat, which is an infection due to streptococcus bacteria, is another cause of sore throats and tonsillitis. With strep throat, the sore throat is often more severe and persists. Tonsillitis is a painful inflammation or infection of the tonsils, the tissue masses located at the back of the throat.
Your doctor may perform a rapid antigen test on a swab sample from your throat. This test can detect strep bacteria in minutes by looking for substances (antigens) in the throat. If the test is negative but your doctor still suspects strep, he or she might do a throat culture.
Strep throat is an infection in your throat and tonsils caused by a type of bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep). Strep throat causes severe inflammation and a sore throat. A healthcare provider can typically diagnose the condition with a rapid strep test or a throat culture.
Get emergency medical care if your child has a sore throat and also: Has difficulty breathing. Is drooling or has difficulty swallowing. Cannot tolerate liquids.
A. Strep throat typically resolves in three to five days if untreated. Despite the short duration, antibiotic treatment is recommended to reduce the risk of complications.
Strep throat can be contagious for about 2-3 weeks in individuals who are not taking antibiotics. However, individuals who do take antibiotics for strep throat usually are no longer contagious about 24- 48 hours after initiating antibiotic therapy.