Strep throat is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. It’s common, it’s very contagious, and it’s straightforward to treat once we know that’s what it is.
The bacteria spread through coughing and sneezing, and through sharing cups, utensils or food. Someone can carry it in their nose or throat without being unwell themselves.
What to look for
- Sore throat, and pain when swallowing
- Fever
- Swollen tonsils, sometimes with white or yellow patches
- Small red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen glands in the neck
- Headache, stomach ache, or feeling sick
A cough, a runny nose or a hoarse voice usually point to a virus rather than strep. Your child may have both at once, but those symptoms on their own are not strep.
Why it’s worth testing
Most sore throats are viral and get better on their own. Strep is the one that benefits from antibiotics, and left untreated it can lead to complications — infection spreading to the tonsils, sinuses, skin or middle ear, scarlet fever, kidney inflammation, or rheumatic fever. Those outcomes are uncommon, and treatment is what keeps them uncommon.
How we test
We start with a rapid strep test — a swab from the back of the throat, with a result in a few minutes. Rapid tests occasionally miss a true infection, so if the result is negative and strep still looks likely, we send a throat culture. That takes a day or two to grow.
Treatment
Strep is treated with antibiotics. Your child stops being contagious about 24 hours after starting them, and usually feels better quickly — but the course still has to be finished, normally around ten days. Stopping early is how strep comes straight back.
For the sore throat itself, over-the-counter pain relief helps with swallowing. Dosing by weight is in the dosage charts on Parent Resources.
When to call us
Call if your child has a sore throat with a fever, if swallowing is difficult, or if a known case isn’t improving after a couple of days on antibiotics. If your child is drooling, can’t swallow their own saliva, or is struggling to breathe, that’s an emergency — call 911.