Strep Throat

Throat infection with strep bacteria is contagious and can cause a variety of symptoms associated with inflammation of the throat and its nearby structures. Symptoms usually begin within a few days (1-4 days) after contracting the infection (incubation period).

Typical signs of strep throat infection are:

fever; swollen, tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck; white patches seen on the tonsils and throat.

Some other more non-specific signs and symptoms of strep throat which can also be seen in strep throat due to other causes are:

sudden onset of sore throat, headache, odynophagia (painful swallowing), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, red, swollen soft palate (uvula), and/or rash (diffuse red patchy rash).Most throat infections are caused by viruses.The symptoms of strep throat include fever, sore throat, and swollen and often tender lymph nodes in the neck, headache, and upset stomach. The diagnosis of strep throat is confirmed by a throat culture or rapid-strep test. Strep throat is cured by antibiotic therapy.If left untreated, strep throat may cause heart and kidney problems.

While many people use the terms sore throat, tonsillitis, and strep throat interchangeably, there are significant clinical differences among these conditions. Understanding the differences can give patients a better idea of how and when to be concerned and when to seek advice from a physician.

Strep throat is only one of many possible causes of throat infection and sore throat. While strep throat is most common in children and adolescents, it can affect people of all ages. It may however, have different signs and symptoms depending upon the patient's age.

A sore throat may have many causes. The most common cause of a sore throat is an infection of the throat and the surrounding structures. Any inflammation or infection of the pharynx, tonsils, esophagus (the food tube), or larynx (the top opening part of the windpipe) may cause sore throat symptoms.

The tonsils are red, oval clumps of tissue located at the back and to the sides of the throat. When viewed microscopically, they appear very similar to lymph gland/lymph node tissue. Their location allows the tonsils to intercept germs as they enter the body through the nose and throat. They contain infection-fighting cells and antibodies (infection-fighting proteins in the body) that help stop the spread of the germs further into the body.

Tonsillitis refers to conditions in which the tonsils become red, sore, and swollen because of inflammation. The term "tonsillitis" does not imply a specific cause of a sore throat. There are many causes of inflammation of the tonsils. Tonsillitis is a common cause of sore throat.

Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 11/13/2012

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