Strep throat is a common throat infection that can cause pain, fever, and discomfort—especially in children, teens, and young adults. While many sore throats are caused by viruses and go away on their own, strep throat is different. It’s caused by bacteria and needs treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications.
This infection can spread easily from person to person, especially in close spaces like schools, daycares, and households. Even though strep throat is rarely dangerous, untreated cases can lead to more serious health problems, including kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever, which can affect the heart.
Understanding the symptoms and getting the right diagnosis early can help you or your child recover faster and avoid spreading the infection to others. In this article, we’ll walk you through what strep throat is, how it’s caused, what symptoms to look for, and how it’s diagnosed and treated.
What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that affects the back of the throat and the tonsils. It’s caused by a group of bacteria called Group A Streptococcus, also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria can live in your nose and throat without causing any symptoms, but they can still be spread through droplets when you cough or sneeze.
Once the infection becomes active, it leads to inflammation and pain in the throat, often making it difficult to swallow. Unlike a typical sore throat caused by a cold or the flu, strep throat tends to come on quickly and often feels more intense.
The condition is contagious and can spread through shared items like utensils or toothbrushes, as well as through close contact like handshakes or hugs.
Causes and Types
The only known cause of strep throat is the Group A Streptococcus bacteria. These bacteria are highly contagious and spread through saliva or nasal secretions. You can catch strep throat by breathing in droplets from a cough, touching a surface with the bacteria, or having close contact with someone who’s infected.
There aren’t different “types” of strep throat in the way we think of some other illnesses, but doctors may describe cases as mild or severe based on how bad the symptoms are. In some people, strep bacteria can also lead to other illnesses, like scarlet fever or impetigo (a skin infection), but these are considered complications rather than separate types of strep throat.
Some people can carry the bacteria in their throat without having any symptoms. These people are called “carriers” and usually don’t need treatment unless they are spreading it to others or having repeated infections.
Symptoms of Strep Throat
The symptoms of strep throat usually appear quickly and are often more intense than a regular sore throat. The most common signs to watch for include:
-
A sore throat that comes on suddenly
-
Pain when swallowing
-
Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
-
Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
-
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
-
Fever
-
Headache
-
Body aches
-
Loss of appetite
Some people, especially younger children, may also experience nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain. Strep throat usually doesn’t come with a cough, runny nose, or hoarseness. If those symptoms are present, the sore throat is more likely caused by a virus.
It’s also important to know that strep throat can be mild or severe. Some people may only feel a little discomfort, while others may have high fevers and significant throat pain.
How It’s Diagnosed
Since the symptoms of strep throat can be similar to other infections, like the flu or common cold, it’s important to get tested to confirm the diagnosis. Doctors often use two main tests to diagnose strep throat:
-
Rapid strep test: This is a quick test done in the doctor’s office. A cotton swab is used to take a sample from the back of your throat. The results usually come back in 10 to 15 minutes. If the test is positive, you likely have strep throat.
-
Throat culture: If the rapid test is negative but your doctor still suspects strep, they may send the throat swab to a lab for further testing. This test takes longer—usually 24 to 48 hours—but it’s more accurate.
It’s a good idea to see a doctor if you or your child has a sore throat that doesn’t go away after a couple of days, especially if it’s accompanied by a fever, rash, or swollen glands.
Treatment Options
Strep throat is treated with antibiotics, which help your body fight the bacteria and shorten the length of the illness. They also reduce the risk of complications and help prevent the infection from spreading to others.
The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for strep throat are penicillin or amoxicillin. If you’re allergic to these, your doctor may suggest another type, like azithromycin or cephalexin. It’s important to take all of the medicine, even if you start to feel better after a day or two.
In addition to antibiotics, you can take steps at home to relieve symptoms:
-
Get plenty of rest
-
Drink warm fluids like tea or broth
-
Use throat lozenges or a saltwater gargle
-
Take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
Most people start to feel better within 1 to 3 days after starting antibiotics. You’re usually no longer contagious after being on antibiotics for 24 hours, but it’s best to stay home from work or school until that point to avoid spreading the infection.
