Strep Throat: All You Need to Know

"Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Healthcare providers can do a quick test to see if a sore throat is strep throat. Antibiotics can help people with strep throat feel better faster and prevent spreading the bacteria to others.

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 takes 2 to 5 days after 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.

People are contagious even with no symptoms

Some people infected with group A strep do not have symptoms or seem sick. People who are sick with strep throat are more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.

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.."
  Strep Throat