Exposure to strep throat

Most sore throats are caused by a virus and go away without medical treatment. However, sore throat may also be a symptom of strep throat, a bacterial infection caused by streptococcal bacteria.

Strep throat is most common in children ages 3 to 15, but it can affect people of any age. If you have 3 or 4 of the following symptoms and do not have a cough, it is more likely that a bacterial strep throat is present:

• Fever of 101F or higher
• Pain that increases with swallowing
• Difficulty swallowing
• White or yellow spots or coating on the back of the throat and tonsils
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Other symptoms of strep throat, especially in children, may include general body aches, headache, stomachache, nausea, vomiting, or listlessness. Strep throat does not usually occur with cold symptoms, such as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, or cough. In general, the more coldlike symptoms you have, the less likely it is that your sore throat is a strep infection. Strep throat cannot be reliably diagnosed without a rapid strep test or throat culture.

Most of the time you will not develop strep throat after coming in contact with someone who has strep throat. However, it is important to watch for symptoms of strep throat if you have been exposed. If you develop a sore throat after being exposed to someone with strep throat, you may have strep throat.

Strep throat with a rash is also called scarlet fever. The most noticeable symptom of scarlet fever is a rough, red rash that feels like sandpaper. The rash begins on the chest and abdomen and then spreads over the rest of the body within 24 hours. The rash and redness are more apparent in skin folds, especially in the groin, armpits, and elbow creases. Fever and a sore throat usually develop before the rash appears. The rash usually fades in about a week, and at that time the skin may begin to peel.

If strep throat is diagnosed, antibiotics are usually prescribed to help prevent rheumatic fever, which is a possible complication of untreated strep throat. Rheumatic fever can cause heart, joint, brain, and skin problems. Antibiotics prevent rheumatic fever if they are started within 9 days of the start of a sore throat.