Is your sore throat strep? (2024)

On This Page

Bacteria cause strep throat

Viruses cause most sore throats. However, strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus(group A strep).

How you get strep throat

Group A strep bacteria are very contagious. Generally, people spread the bacteria to others through

• Respiratory droplets
• Direct contact

Rarely, group A strep bacteria can be spread through food that isn’t handled properly (visit CDC’s food safety page).

It usually takes2 to 5 daysafter exposure to become ill with strep throat.

Respiratory droplets

Group A strep bacteria often live in the nose and throat. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing. This creates respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria.

People can get sick if they:

• Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria
• Touch their mouth or nose after touching something with those droplets on it
• Use the same plate, utensil, or glass as a person infected with the bacteria

Direct contact

People can also spread group A strep bacteria from infected sores on the skin. Other people can get sick if they touch those sores or come into contact with fluid from the sores.

Symptoms often include pain and fever

In general, strep throat is a mild disease, but it can be very painful.

Common symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Pain when swallowing
• Sore throat that started very quickly and may look red
• Red and swollen tonsils
• White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils
• Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth, called petechiae
• Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Less common symptoms may include vomiting and headache

Some people, especially children, may have other symptoms, too.

Other symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rash (scarlet fever)

Symptoms do NOT include cough or runny nose

The following symptoms suggest a virus is the cause of the illness instead of strep throat:

• Cough
• Runny nose
• Hoarseness (changes in your voice that make it sound breathy, raspy, or strained)
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

Some people are at increased risk

Anyone can get strep throat, but there are some factors that can increase the risk of getting this common infection.

Age

Strep throat is more common in children than adults. It is most common in children 5 through 15 years old. It is very rare in children younger than 3 years old.

Close contact

Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. For example, if someone has strep throat, the bacteria often spread to other people in their household.

Contact with children: Parents of school-age children and adults who are often in contact with children are at increased risk.

Crowded settingscan increase the risk of getting any group A strep infection including strep throat. These settings include:

• Daycare centers and schools
• Detention or correctional facilities
• Homeless shelters
• Military training facilities

A simple test gives fast results

A healthcare provider will determine what type of illness you have by asking about symptoms and doing a physical exam. If they think you might have strep throat, they will swab your throat to test for strep throat. There are two types of tests for strep throat: a rapid strep test and throat culture.

Rapid strep test

A rapid strep test involves swabbing the throat and running a test on the swab. The test quickly shows if group A strep bacteria are likely causing the illness.

Throat culture

A throat culture takes time to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. While it takes more time, a throat culture sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test misses.

What to do if you’ve tested positive

Healthcare providers treat strep throat with antibiotics.

Call a healthcare providerif you or your child aren’t feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.

Strep carriers

A carrier is someone who tests positive but has no symptoms. Generally, carriers don’t need antibiotics. They’re less likely to spread the bacteria to others and very unlikely to get complications.

If a carrier gets a viral sore throat (with or without a rash), a strep test can be positive. In these cases, it’s hard to know what’s causing the sore throat.

Talk to a healthcare provider if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier.

What to do if you’ve tested negative

After a negative rapid strep test, healthcare providers may do a throat culture.

For children and teens, culture is important.

For adults, it’s usually not necessary to do a throat culture.

Antibiotics aren’t needed if all the test results are negative.

Antibiotics are used for treatment

Healthcare providers treat strep throat with antibiotics to

• Decrease how long someone is sick
• Decrease symptoms
• Prevent the bacteria from spreading to others
• Prevent serious complications like rheumatic fever

Serious complications are not common

Complications can occur after a strep throat infection if the bacteria spread to other parts of the body.

Complications can include:

• Abscesses (pockets of pus) around the tonsilsor in the neck
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Rheumatic fever (a disease that can affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin)
• Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (a kidney disease)

Protect yourself and others

People can get strep throat more than once. Having strep throat does not protect someone from getting it again in the future. While there is no vaccine to prevent strep throat, there are things people can do to protect themselves and others.

Healthy habits

Many daily healthy habits can help prevent infections:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you don’t have a tissue.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
• Wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed.

Related diseases

Related Resources

Top of Page