White spots on back of throat, tonsils, or tongue. Swollen, tender neck glands. Bright red tongue. Trouble swallowing.
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.
Symptoms include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a tiny, rough pimples (“sandpapery” feel). On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to see but the skin will have a sandpapery feel. They might have a very red tongue or lips.
Even though strep throat can go away on its own after about a week, antibiotics can help make a person feel better faster and can keep the infection from spreading to other people. Within about 12 hours after starting on antibiotics, your child probably won't have a fever and won't be contagious.
Untreated strep can harm the body. If the body overreacts to the bacteria, it can lead to a disease called rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can cause painful and swollen joints, a specific type of rash, kidney damage, or harm the heart. Start antibiotic medicine as soon as possible to prevent harm to the body.
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.
Although strep throat is most commonly seen in children aged 5 to 15 years old, it can occur at any age. This means that even babies and toddlers can have strep throat, though cases are rare in this age group.
The bacteria that cause strep spread through coughing and sneezing. When children breathe in airborne droplets expelled by someone who has strep, they may get sick, too. Strep bacteria can also spread from person to person via shared eating utensils. Teach your children not to share straws, flatware, and glasses.
Someone coughs or sneezes and you can actually breathe in those droplets and catch strep. “Those droplets can land on the doorknob or the counter. You get that on your hand and touch your nose or mouth and you will very likely get it,” Spires says. “Strep is as contagious as any virus, if not more.
Sometimes viral illnesses cause a sore throat that may be mistaken for strep throat. These include common cold viruses, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), influenza (the "flu"), croup, mononucleosis (“mono”), measles, and chickenpox.
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.
First, let's distinguish between the two. Strep is a bacterial infection. Strep causes the throat to be very sore and it becomes very painful to swallow and they typically don't eat, or only eat very soft things. With a cold or flu, children usually eat fine or if not the reason is appetite not pain with swallowing.
Whether you are a child or an adult, it is always important to seek medical treatment if you have strep throat symptoms. Left untreated, strep throat can progress to scarlet fever or rheumatic fever.
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 typically resolves in three to five days if untreated. Despite the short duration, antibiotic treatment is recommended to reduce the risk of complications. Symptoms typically resolve within one to three days following the start of antibiotics.
No, strep throat won't go away on its own. A type of bacteria causes strep throat, and antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria. Strep throat can lead to more serious illnesses if not treated, so it's important to start on antibiotics immediately.
Strep throat
"A rapid strep test in the office can diagnose strep," says Dr. Eastman. "Then we prescribe antibiotics." Kids can usually return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
How Long is Strep Contagious? People taking antibiotics for strep throat become less contagious over 24 to 48 hours. A person with untreated strep can infect others for two or three weeks.
The underlying difference between strep throat and sore throat is that it is strep caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, while other sore throats are caused by other types of bacteria, viruses or irritants like allergies. Different types of pharyngitis also require different treatment plans and medications.
Strep throat — Strep throat is usually treated with an antibiotic, such as penicillin, or an antibiotic similar to penicillin (eg, amoxicillin). Children who are allergic to penicillin will be given an alternate antibiotic. The antibiotic is usually given in pill or liquid form one, two, or three times per day.
You need to take the full course of antibiotics. Strep throat can spread to others until 24 hours after you begin taking antibiotics. During this time, avoid contact with other people at work, school, or home, especially infants and children. Do not sneeze or cough on others, and wash your hands often.
Cough, runny nose, pink eye, or hoarseness/laryngitis are not common with strep throat. So when a child comes in with a runny nose, cough and sore throat this is almost always due to a viral cause and should not be treated with antibiotics.
Strep Throat Symptoms. Sore throat symptoms are typically caused by inflammation due to a virus like the common cold. However, about 15 percent of sore throats are caused by bacteria called streptococcus or strep. Strep throat requires treatment with an antibiotic, while viral causes of sore throat do not.
Symptoms appear about 2 to 5 days after coming in contact with the strep germ. They may be mild or severe. Common symptoms include: Fever that may begin suddenly and is often the highest on the second day.