Strep Throat: Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, and Treatment

Is a sore throat making it painful to swallow, speak, or even breathe comfortably? If your throat pain comes on suddenly, is accompanied by fever, swollen glands, or white patches on the tonsils, it may not be a common cold, it could be strep throat. A very common bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils. It can cause sudden and intense throat pain and can lead to serious complications if it is left untreated.

At PSRI Hospital, widely recognised as the best hospital in Delhi, patients receive precise diagnosis and evidence based treatment for throat and respiratory infections. With access to the best ENT doctor in Delhi, advanced laboratory testing, and a patient-centric approach, PSRI Hospital ensures that conditions like strep throat are identified early and treated effectively, reducing the risk of complications.

In this blog, you will learn about the strep throat symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatments associated with it.

What Is Strep Throat?

A sore throat is caused by a virus, which comes with a cough or runny nose, but strep throat usually appears suddenly and is marked by sharp throat pain, fever, and fatigue. It requires proper antibiotic treatment as it is highly contagious and can spread very easily if the patient is in close proximity to other people. 

Causes of Strep Throat

Strep throat causes because of a bacterium called group A streptococcus. It is contagious in nature and causes a shooting and sudden pain in the throat. 

The time between acquiring the infection and the development of symptoms for strep throat ranges from two to five days. It is possible for an infected individual to spread the infection during this time phase. 

The strep throat infection spreads through:

• Airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing.
• Close contact with an infected person.
• Sharing food, utensils, or drinks.
• Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth or nose.

Understanding strep throat causes is essential for early prevention and timely care.

Common Strep Throat Symptoms

Strep throat symptoms appear in 3-5 days. The severity may be different in different age groups, but some of the most common symptoms include :

Primary Symptoms

• Sudden onset of sore throat, as the pain starts suddenly and is very sharp.
• Fever and chills commonly appear. A temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) is common and may be accompanied by sweating or a flushed face. The fever often comes on early and lasts a few days if untreated.
• Painful swallowing because of the pain in the throat. Even small sips of liquid may hurt, making it difficult to stay hydrated.

Associated Signs

• Red, swollen tonsils and possible white patches/pus. The tonsils often appear swollen and may have white patches or small yellowish spots.
• Swollen lymph nodes. Just below the jawline, on either side of the neck, you will notice swelling. You can feel the swollen lymph nodes.
• Especially in children, you will notice headache, abdominal pain, and nausea/vomiting during the first few days.

How Strep Throat Is Diagnosed?

Strep throat cannot be confirmed by a healthcare provider without a proper diagnosis. The diagnosis can be done through:

• Rapid strep test (RADT): An ENT doctor may conduct a rapid antigen test on a swab sample taken from the throat. This test detects strep throat-causing bacteria by identifying antigens in the throat. It provides results within minutes. However, the test may occasionally give a false negative result, so further testing is needed when symptoms strongly suggest strep throat.
• Throat culture: More accurate, with results in 24–48 hours. During this test, a sterile swab is rubbed on the back of the throat and tonsils to obtain a sample of the secretions. The sample is cultured in a lab to detect the bacteria.

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone can get strep throat, but certain groups are more likely to develop it due to their environment or immune response:

• Children aged 5-15 years: This age group is most commonly affected, as children are often in close contact with others in schools or playgrounds.
• People in crowded environments: Classrooms, dormitories, military camps, and households with multiple members make it easier for bacteria to spread.
• Individuals with weak immune systems: Those recovering from illness or with chronic health conditions may be more susceptible.
• Exposure to infected individuals: Being near someone with strep throat or sharing utensils, food, or drinks increases the risk of transmission.
• Seasonal factors: Strep throat tends to occur more frequently in late autumn and early spring, when people spend more time indoors, and infections spread more easily.

Understanding strep throat risk factors helps with early prevention and timely medical care.

Strep Throat Treatment Options

Effective and prompt strep throat treatment is essential to relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and reduce spread. Medications are available to relieve symptoms of strep throat. These medications may include :

Antibiotic Therapy

• Oral antibiotics are provided by the doctors if the diagnosis is made. In 48 hours or so, you will see the onset of an illness; it reduces the duration and severity of the symptoms, mitigating the risk of complications and the likelihood that the infection will spread.
• It is important that you complete the full course of your medicine, as the infection can return if you do not complete the course.

Home Care & Supportive Treatments

Some of the lifestyle measures and home remedies for strep throat treatment that you can do include:

• Rest- Rest can help your body gain energy. It is helpful as your body is fighting the infection.
• Hydration-  Sipping water frequently prevents dryness in the throat and helps flush out bacteria. Warm drinks like herbal tea or broth can be soothing, while cold fluids such as ice water or ice lollies can help numb throat pain. 

Conclusion

Strep throat may seem like a simple infection, but as you have already read above, it is a serious infection, and if it is left untreated, it can be very risky. The good news is that with the timely and right strep throat treatment, most people can recover quickly.

At PSRI,  the best hospital in Delhi, you can have  access to the best ENT doctor in Delhi, get yourself checked, and they can confirm the cause and start the treatment right away.

Book your appointment at PSRI Hospital now. Call us at 084848-48417. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can strep throat go away without medication?​

With some home remedies, it might calm down, but the infection does not go away.

Can adults get strep throat, or is it only common in children?

Strep throat is more common in children aged 5 to 15; adults can also get it, especially those who are frequently in contact with children or work in crowded environments such as schools or healthcare settings.

Can strep throat cause a bad smell?

Yes, because of the infection, inflammation, and pus in the throat, your mouth can smell bad.