Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat which is also known as streptococcal pharyngitis.

Yet untreated strep can cause serious diseases, such as:Quick treatment with antibiotics can help prevent these problems.American Academy of Family Physicians: "Strep Throat Diagnosis & Tests. These can make your child sick again. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications.
Learn the causes of streptococcal pharyngitis and how to tell strep from other sore throat conditions. The medicine can make your child's symptoms go away faster and help prevent complications.Make sure your child takes all of the doses. You can also pick up the bacteria from a doorknob or other surface and transfer them to your nose, mouth or eyes.Several factors can increase your risk of strep throat infection:Although strep throat isn't dangerous, it can lead to serious complications. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. If the test is positive, which means strep is there, the doctor will prescribe If the test is negative, which means the strep bacteria could not be found, the doctor might send the sample to a lab for a follow-up that takes longer.It usually takes about 2 days to get results from a throat culture. Viruses are the most common cause of a sore throat. Strep throat accounts for only a small portion of sore throats.If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. There are two kinds:You'll get the results in 20 minutes or less. Bacteria Cause Strep Throat. © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). ANSWER A variety of things -- including overuse, a common cold, a serious virus, or allergies – can cause a sore throat. How You Get Strep Throat. "American Academy of Pediatrics: "Choking Prevention. PANDAS is a term used to describe certain children whose symptoms of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or tic disorders, are worsened by strep infection. "WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Other less common causes of sore throat might require more complex treatment. If you or your child has signs or symptoms of strep throat, see your doctor for prompt testing and treatment.Strep throat usually causes throat pain and difficulty swallowing. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Group A strep live in the nose and throat … Stopping the medicine too early can leave some bacteria alive. Your child doesn't need antibiotics because these Strep complications are rare today, thanks to better diagnosis and treatment. Most treatments last for about 10 days.

"Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. The only sure way to tell strep from viruses that cause a sore throat is with a test. This photo of strep throat shows inflammation and red spots, caused by the infection.It's possible for you or your child to have many of these signs and symptoms but not have strep throat.

It can confirm whether your child has strep throat or not.Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause the infection. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat. Rheumatic fever can lead to painful and inflamed joints, a specific type of rash, or heart valve damage.Strep throat is most common in children, but it affects people of all ages. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. When people who are sick You can infect yourself if you touch something a person with strep has coughed or sneezed upon and then brush your With strep, the sore throat comes on quickly. Like other infections, it spreads through close contact. Your throat feels raw, and it hurts to swallow.Strep is also more likely to cause these other symptoms as well:Call your doctor if you or a child in your care has these symptoms.Your doctor will ask about your child's symptoms. "American Association for Clinical Chemistry: "Strep Throat Test. A person may also have other symptoms, such as a fever, but this is not always the case. "PubMed Health: "Strep Throat," "Strep Throat: Treatments. Strep throat accounts for only a small portion of sore throats.If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Unlike other common infectious causes of a sore throat, a strep throat is highly contagious and if left untreated, it can cause serious and even life-threatening complications. That's why your doctor generally tests specifically for strep throat.It's also possible for you to be exposed to a person who carries strep but shows no symptoms.Call your doctor if you or your child has any of these signs and symptoms:The cause of strep throat is bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A streptococcus.Streptococcal bacteria are highly contagious.