What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat, or streptococcal sore throat, is most common in children. While a virus causes most sore throats, strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection known as group A strep.
Strep throat symptoms generally include:
- A sore throat that comes on quickly
- Pain when swallowing
- Fever
- Red, swollen tonsils, possibly with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes
Additional strep throat symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain, especially in children. A rash known as scarlet fever, although less common, is another strep throat symptom.
What Are the Symptoms of Throat Infection?
Sore throats caused by an infection typically exhibit additional symptoms beyond those caused by allergies or acid reflux. These symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Body aches
- Headache
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Nausea and/or vomiting
Sore throat treatment is based on the cause of the infection. A viral infection is responsible for most sore throats. Others are caused by group A strep, tonsillitis, croup, laryngitis, or even cancer. Your MD Now provider will prescribe sore throat treatment or recommend an appropriate specialist once the cause of your symptoms has been diagnosed.
How Long Is the Incubation Period for a Sore Throat Infection?
Strep infection is highly contagious and spreads through direct or respiratory droplet contact with someone previously infected. The incubation period for both a viral infection and strep infection is typically two to five days.
Those who share close quarters—such as a home, classroom, day care, or college dorm—have a higher risk of catching a strep infection. In household environments, the risk is approximately 40%.
If you’ve been exposed to someone with the infection and develop strep throat symptoms, see your MD Now provider promptly. The sooner you begin treatment, the more quickly you’ll recover. You’ll also be less likely to pass the infection along to others, such as family members.
What Is the Most Important Aspect of Strep Throat Treatment?
If your sore throat is caused by strep, you will need a course of antibiotics to kill the infection. To determine between what is strep throat and what is simply a sore throat caused by a virus, your MD Now provider will perform a rapid strep test, which involves swabbing your throat.
If the test confirms a strep infection, you will be prescribed antibiotics to help you recover more quickly. If the test result is negative, a second test, using DNA or a lab culture, may be conducted just to make sure.
A second test is especially important for children and teens, since they sometimes develop rheumatic fever from strep throat. For adults, this step is rarely necessary, since they have a lower risk for rheumatic fever.
