Strep Throat- Symptoms and Causes

During cold weather, we are prone to viral or bacterial infections, followed by sneezing, coughing and fever. When we feel something uncomfortable in the throat, we get a clue that it's some infection. Here, we will explore strep throat symptoms and understand what causes them.

What Is Strep Throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. It is characterized by inflammation and irritation of the throat. It is more common in children between the ages of 5 and 15 but can affect people of all ages.

Strep throat is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Strep Throat Symptoms

Strep throat severity varies; symptoms usually develop within 5 days of exposure to strep bacteria. Some people experience mild symptoms, like a sore throat while some people have more severe symptoms, including fever and difficulty swallowing.

The common symptoms of strep throat include:

• Sudden fever, especially if it’s 101˚F (38˚C) or higher

• Sore, red throat with white patches

• Headache

• Chills

• A loss of appetite

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

• Difficulty swallowing

The rare symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms like:

• stomach pain

• nausea and vomiting, especially in children

• Scarlet fever, a rash associated with strep

Some symptoms are sign of viral infection, not strep throat. This includes cough, hoarse voice, runny nose, and pink eye. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms then you might have a different illness.

To get an accurate diagnosis, consult a doctor and get a strep test.

Causes of Strep Throat

Strep throat is caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes or group A Streptococcus. Strep throat is highly contagious and can be spread when you share food or a drink with someone with an active strep throat infection. You can even catch it when you touch our eyes, nose, or mouth after being exposed to these bacteria, like when someone with strep throat coughs or sneezes.

Risk Factors

This includes:

• close contact with an infected person

• exposure to crowded settings (like schools, social gatherings, daycare centres, or military facilities)

• being between ages 5 and 15

• having a school-aged child

• most cases in adults are observed in those under the age of 40

Strep throat often spreads within households since close contact is the primary risk.