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There is no vaccine for strep throat; however, there are plenty of ways to prevent individuals from getting it.
-Covering mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
-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 warm water for at least 20 seconds
-Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
-Stay away from others until no longer having a fever AND have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Doctors 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 it 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, people can spread group A strep bacteria through food that is not handled properly (visit CDC's food safety page).

It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep bacteria 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, which creates respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria.

People can get sick if they:

Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria

Touch something with those droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose

Drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a person infected with group A strep bacteria

Direct contact

People can also spread group A strep bacteria from infected sores on their skin. Other people can get sick if they:

Touch sores on the skin caused by group A strep bacteria (impetigo) or come into contact with fluid from the sores

It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.

Pain, fever, but no cough is common

In general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of strep throat include:

Sore throat that can start very quickly

Pain when swallowing

Fever

Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

Petechiae - pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye - on the soft or hard palate (tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth)

Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting - especially in children. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash; it is known as scarlet fever.

Some symptoms suggest a viral cause rather than group A strep

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)

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Up to 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat

About 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat

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.

Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat include:

Parents of school-aged children

Adults who are often in contact with children

Group settings

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.

Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Crowded settings can increase the risk of getting a group A strep infection. These settings include:

Schools

Daycare centers

Military training facilities

A simple test gives fast results

A doctor 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 causing the illness.

If the test is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics.

If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab.

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.

Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated strep throat infection. For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever following a strep throat infection.

Antibiotics get you well fast

Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Benefits of antibiotics include:

Decreasing how long someone is sick

Decreasing symptoms (feeling better)

Preventing the bacteria from spreading to others

Preventing serious complications like rheumatic fever

Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.

When to return to work, school after illness

People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they:

AND

Have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours

Antibiotic dos and don'ts

1. Do take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to.

2. Don't stop taking the medicine, even if you or your child feels better, unless the doctor says to stop.

You can find more guidance on taking antibiotics on CDC's Antibiotic Do's & Don'ts Page.

Not everyone needs antibiotics

Someone who tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms (called a "carrier") usually does not need antibiotics. They are less likely to spread the bacteria to others and very unlikely to get complications.

If a carrier gets a sore throat illness caused by a virus, the rapid strep test can be positive. In these cases, it can be hard to know what is causing the sore throat.

If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection. Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier.

Serious complications are not common

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

Abscesses (pockets of pus) around the tonsils or in the neck

Swollen lymph nodes 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.

Good hygiene

The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating.

To prevent group A strep infections, you should:

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.

You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics help prevent someone with strep throat from spreading the bacteria to others.

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Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Doctors 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 it to others. Viruses cause most sore throats.

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-Only 30% of sore throats in children are strep.
-Adults can get strep too but it usually affects children more often.
-Strep is highly contagious
-Home remedies can help you feel better

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Watch this animated, short video, to better understand strep throat!

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Shelly McNeil is a professor of medicine and clinical scholar at Dalhousie University. She is also the chief for the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Nova Scotia Health Authority and research director of the Division of Infectious Diseases.

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Biography

Dr. McNeil is professor of medicine and clinical scholar at Dalhousie University. She is also the division head / service chief for the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Nova Scotia Health Authority and research director of the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. McNeil is an accomplished researcher who completed internal medicine training at Dalhousie, followed by a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.

Research interests

Much of Dr. McNeil's research relates to influenza immunization, including:

study of a novel, adjuvant vaccine to overcome immunosenescence in the elderly

projects to improve uptake of influenza vaccine among high-risk populations

examination of barriers to the receipt of influenza immunization by pregnant women

development and delivery of a continuing professional development program regarding influenza in pregnancy targeting physicians and pharmacists in Nova Scotia

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Dr. McNeil is professor of medicine and clinical scholar at Dalhousie University. She is also the division head / service chief for the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Nova Scotia Health Authority and research director of the Division of Infectious Diseases.

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7. Strep Throat or Sore Throat Infographic

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7. Strep Throat or Sore Throat Infographic

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Shelly McNeil is the head of a group of scientists trying to obtain a vaccine for Group A streptococcus. It entered Phase 1 of clinical trials in Nova Scotia, Canada during August of 2015 and ended in January of 2017. Although not a licensed vaccine, it shows that we are getting closer to a breakthrough and completely wiping out strep throat altogether.

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Diagnosis:
"A rapid strep test involves swabbing the throat and running a test on the swab. The test quickly shows if group A strep is causing the illness." (CDC 2021).

Treatment:
"If the test is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics. If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab." (CDC 2021).
The most common antibiotics used by doctors to treat a sore throat, according to www.webmd.com is Penicillin or Amoxicillin.

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What Are the Treatments for Strep Throat?

Strep throat, caused by bacteria, is one type of sore throat that can be treated. It isn't handled in the same way as sore throats caused by colds and other viruses, so your doctor will likely do what's called a "rapid strep test" to be sure it's strep

If the test is positive (meaning you or your child has it), they'll probably recommend:

Antibiotics to kill the bacteria that's causing it

Rest to help you get better faster

Over-the-counter medicines and home remedies to ease symptoms

Most antibiotic treatments for strep throat last about 10 days. Kids usually feel better a day or two after they start them. Once they've been on these drugs for about 24 hours, they're no longer contagious and can go back to school.

Even after kids start to feel better, they should finish all their pills. You can leave some bacteria alive if you stop too soon. If strep is not fully treated, it might lead to complications such as:

When people stop taking antibiotics too soon, the bacteria that cause strep can become resistant to the medication. That means another case of strep would be much harder to control.

Strep Throat Home Care

Until the antibiotics start to work, these home treatments can help you or your child feel better:

Over-the-counter pain relievers: Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to bring down a fever and ease the sore throat. Don't give aspirin to children and teens. It can cause a rare but serious condition called Reye's syndrome.

Rest: Stay home from school or work. You need extra rest to help your body fight off the infection.

Gargling: Rinse with a mixture of a quarter-teaspoon of salt and 8 ounces of warm water to relieve a scratchy throat.

Lozenges and hard candy: Older kids can suck on these to feel better. Avoid giving small pieces of candy to children 4 and younger.

Lots of fluids: Do this especially if you have a fever. Water and warm liquids such as soup or tea soothe the throat and keep you hydrated. If cold feels better on your throat, suck on a frozen pop or ice chips. Avoid orange juice, lemonade, and other drinks that are high in acid. These can burn your throat.

Soft foods: Examples include yogurt, applesauce, or frozen yogurt. They're easier to swallow.

Cool-mist humidifier or saline nasal spray: Moisture can help make your throat feel better.

Steer clear of anything that might bother your throat, like cigarette smoke, paint fumes, or cleaning products.

Antibiotics

This class of drugs is able to kill the group A Streptococcus bacteria that cause strep throat. They will work only on bacteria. They have no effect on sore throats caused by viruses.

Antibiotics can:

Relieve a sore throat and other symptoms when they are caused by strep

Help your child get better faster

Make it less likely it will be spread to others

Help prevent complications such as sinus and tonsil infections, and more serious things such as rheumatic fever

Doctors most often prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin (Amoxil) to treat strep throat. They are the top choices because they're safer, inexpensive, and they work well on strep bacteria.

Kids or adults who are allergic to penicillin may be able to take one of these antibiotics instead:

Your child will take antibiotics by mouth one to three times each day. Sometimes doctors give this medicine as a shot.
Side effects
Antibiotics sometimes cause side effects, such as:

Usually these side effects are mild. They should stop once your child finishes the medicine. If they are severe or persist, then call your doctor.

People sometimes have an allergy to antibiotics, though it is rare. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

Call your doctor right away if your child has these symptoms.
How long do I take them?

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What Are the Treatments for Strep Throat?

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Strep throat, caused by bacteria, is one type of sore throat that can be treated.

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Symptoms:

-Sore throat
-Pain when swallowing
-Fever
-Headache
-Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
-Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
-Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Complications:

-If not treated soon enough, sore throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever which can lead to heart valve damage.
-It can also cause the blockage of airway in the back of the throat, pneumonia, and other long term problems.

However, if the patient has a runny nose, cough, pink eye, or hoarseness, it suggests that a virus is the cause. of the illness rather than strep throat.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Doctors 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 it 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, people can spread group A strep bacteria through food that is not handled properly (visit CDC's food safety page).

It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep bacteria 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, which creates respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria.

People can get sick if they:

Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria

Touch something with those droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose

Drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a person infected with group A strep bacteria

Direct contact

People can also spread group A strep bacteria from infected sores on their skin. Other people can get sick if they:

Touch sores on the skin caused by group A strep bacteria (impetigo) or come into contact with fluid from the sores

It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.

Pain, fever, but no cough is common

In general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of strep throat include:

Sore throat that can start very quickly

Pain when swallowing

Fever

Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

Petechiae - pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye - on the soft or hard palate (tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth)

Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting - especially in children. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash; it is known as scarlet fever.

Some symptoms suggest a viral cause rather than group A strep

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)

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Up to 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat

About 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat

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.

Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat include:

Parents of school-aged children

Adults who are often in contact with children

Group settings

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.

Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Crowded settings can increase the risk of getting a group A strep infection. These settings include:

Schools

Daycare centers

Military training facilities

A simple test gives fast results

A doctor 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 causing the illness.

If the test is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics.

If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab.

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.

Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated strep throat infection. For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever following a strep throat infection.

Antibiotics get you well fast

Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Benefits of antibiotics include:

Decreasing how long someone is sick

Decreasing symptoms (feeling better)

Preventing the bacteria from spreading to others

Preventing serious complications like rheumatic fever

Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.

When to return to work, school after illness

People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they:

AND

Have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours

Antibiotic dos and don'ts

1. Do take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to.

2. Don't stop taking the medicine, even if you or your child feels better, unless the doctor says to stop.

You can find more guidance on taking antibiotics on CDC's Antibiotic Do's & Don'ts Page.

Not everyone needs antibiotics

Someone who tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms (called a "carrier") usually does not need antibiotics. They are less likely to spread the bacteria to others and very unlikely to get complications.

If a carrier gets a sore throat illness caused by a virus, the rapid strep test can be positive. In these cases, it can be hard to know what is causing the sore throat.

If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection. Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier.

Serious complications are not common

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

Abscesses (pockets of pus) around the tonsils or in the neck

Swollen lymph nodes 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.

Good hygiene

The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating.

To prevent group A strep infections, you should:

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.

You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics help prevent someone with strep throat from spreading the bacteria to others.

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Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Doctors 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 it to others. Viruses cause most sore throats.

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The causative agent for strep throat is known as Streptococcus Pyogenes, better known as Group A Streptococcus. This agent causes acute pharyngitis which is known as strep throat.

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According to the CDC Website, "Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus or 'group A strep.' In addition to a sore throat, symptoms can include pain when swallowing, a fever, red and swollen tonsils, tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth, or swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck. Your doctor can do a quick strep test to see if group A strep bacteria are causing your sore throat. If the test is positive, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics help you feel better sooner, prevent serious health problems, and help prevent spreading the infection to others." (CDC 2021).

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus or "group A strep." In addition to a sore throat, symptoms can include pain when swallowing, a fever, red and swollen tonsils, tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth, or swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck. Your doctor can do a quick strep test to see if group A strep bacteria are causing your sore throat. If the test is positive, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics help you feel better sooner, prevent serious health problems, and help prevent spreading the infection to others.

Quiz

Key Facts

Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria (called "group A strep"). However, viruses - not bacteria - cause most sore throats.

Group A strep bacteria spread through contact with droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze. If you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching something that has these droplets on it, you may become ill.

No one, not even a doctor, can diagnose strep throat just by looking at your throat. Doctors can swab your throat to see if you have strep throat.

People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours.

Antibiotics taken for strep throat reduce your symptoms and the length of time you're sick, prevent long-term health problems, and help prevent spreading the infection to friends and family members.

Media

Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of germs that cause strep throat and other infections. Do not drink from the same glass, eat from the same plate, or share utensils with someone who is sick.

In addition to a sore throat, symptoms of strep throat can include pain when swallowing, a fever, red and swollen tonsils, tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth, or swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck.

Antibiotics Get You Well Fast

If you have strep throat, antibiotics reduce your symptoms and the length of time you're sick. Antibiotics may also prevent spreading the infection to others and prevent complications. Take the prescription exactly as your doctor tells you. Don't stop taking the medicine, even if you feel better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it.

People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours. This will help prevent spreading it to others.

Prevention Tips

Wash your hands often.

Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Do not drink from the same glass, eat from the same plate, or share utensils with someone who is sick.

If you have strep throat, stay home from work, school, or daycare until you no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours. This will help keep others from getting sick.

More at CDC.gov

Page last reviewed:

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Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus or "group A strep." In addition to a sore throat, symptoms can include pain when swallowing, a fever, red and swollen tonsils, tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth, or swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Doctors 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 it 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, people can spread group A strep bacteria through food that is not handled properly (visit CDC's food safety page).

It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep bacteria 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, which creates respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria.

People can get sick if they:

Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria

Touch something with those droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose

Drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a person infected with group A strep bacteria

Direct contact

People can also spread group A strep bacteria from infected sores on their skin. Other people can get sick if they:

Touch sores on the skin caused by group A strep bacteria (impetigo) or come into contact with fluid from the sores

It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.

Pain, fever, but no cough is common

In general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of strep throat include:

Sore throat that can start very quickly

Pain when swallowing

Fever

Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

Petechiae - pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye - on the soft or hard palate (tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth)

Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting - especially in children. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash; it is known as scarlet fever.

Some symptoms suggest a viral cause rather than group A strep

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)

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Up to 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat

About 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat

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.

Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat include:

Parents of school-aged children

Adults who are often in contact with children

Group settings

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.

Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Crowded settings can increase the risk of getting a group A strep infection. These settings include:

Schools

Daycare centers

Military training facilities

A simple test gives fast results

A doctor 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 causing the illness.

If the test is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics.

If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab.

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.

Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated strep throat infection. For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever following a strep throat infection.

Antibiotics get you well fast

Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Benefits of antibiotics include:

Decreasing how long someone is sick

Decreasing symptoms (feeling better)

Preventing the bacteria from spreading to others

Preventing serious complications like rheumatic fever

Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.

When to return to work, school after illness

People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they:

AND

Have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours

Antibiotic dos and don'ts

1. Do take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to.

2. Don't stop taking the medicine, even if you or your child feels better, unless the doctor says to stop.

You can find more guidance on taking antibiotics on CDC's Antibiotic Do's & Don'ts Page.

Not everyone needs antibiotics

Someone who tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms (called a "carrier") usually does not need antibiotics. They are less likely to spread the bacteria to others and very unlikely to get complications.

If a carrier gets a sore throat illness caused by a virus, the rapid strep test can be positive. In these cases, it can be hard to know what is causing the sore throat.

If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection. Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier.

Serious complications are not common

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

Abscesses (pockets of pus) around the tonsils or in the neck

Swollen lymph nodes 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.

Good hygiene

The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating.

To prevent group A strep infections, you should:

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.

You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics help prevent someone with strep throat from spreading the bacteria to others.

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Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Doctors 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 it to others. Viruses cause most sore throats.