The sign of strep throat is a sudden, severe sore throat often accompanied by fever, red or swollen tonsils, and tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth. These symptoms typically appear quickly and may include white patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils.
Strep throat is caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterium. Unlike viral sore throats, which develop gradually, strep throat symptoms usually appear within 2-5 days of exposure. The infection primarily affects children aged 5-15 but can occur at any age.
The most common signs of strep throat include:
Unlike viral infections, strep throat rarely causes coughing, sneezing, or runny nose. If these symptoms are present, another illness may be the cause.
Doctors use two main tests to diagnose strep throat:
If the rapid test is negative but strep throat is still suspected, a throat culture is usually performed for confirmation.
Many people confuse strep throat with other sore throat causes, such as the common cold or allergies. Unlike strep throat, these conditions often include symptoms like coughing, sneezing, or congestion. Another misconception is that strep throat always causes visible white patches-while common, these aren't always present.
I once had a patient who insisted their sore throat was strep because of white patches, but testing revealed it was actually oral thrush-a fungal infection. This highlights the importance of proper diagnosis.
Seek medical attention if you or your child experiences:
Prompt treatment with antibiotics can shorten the duration of symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.