Where is strep throat most likely to be found

Penicillin is the drug of choice for both mild and severe disease. For penicillin-allergic patients with mild illness, erythromycin can be used, although occasional resistance has been seen. Clindamycin may be used to treat penicillin-allergic patients with more severe illness and can be added to the treatment in cases of necrotizing fasciitis or STSS. Certain other antibiotics also are effective.

In addition to antibiotics, supportive care in an intensive care unit and sometimes surgery are necessary with these diseases. Early treatment may reduce the risk of death although, unfortunately, even appropriate therapy does not prevent death in every case. The risk of secondary cases of invasive GAS disease among persons with casual contact to a case is very small.

However, there are occasional reports of close contacts such as family members developing severe disease. In general, it is not necessary for all persons exposed to someone with an invasive group A streptococcal infection to be tested or receive preventive antibiotics. If household contacts are in good health, they should be watched for signs of GAS infection, but will not need to take preventive antibiotics.

However, those who are at higher risk of invasive disease if infected for example, persons with diabetes, cancer, chronic heart disease or alcoholism should discuss the benefit of preventive antibiotics with their healthcare provider.

The spread of all types of group A streptococcal infections may be reduced by good hand washing, especially after coughing and sneezing, before and after preparing foods and before eating. Persons with sore throats should be seen by a physician who can perform tests to find out whether it is strep throat; if so, one should stay home from work, school or daycare for 24 hours or more after taking an antibiotic.

All wounds should be kept clean. Wounds should be watched for possible signs of infection which include increasing redness, swelling and pain at the wound site. If these signs occur, especially in a person who also has a fever, consult a doctor immediately.

Navigation menu. How are group A streptococci spread? Strep throat In general, strep throat is a mild illness, but it can be very painful. Symptoms include sore throat that comes on very quickly, pain when swallowing, fever, red and swollen tonsils sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus , small red spots on the roof of the mouth, and swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck. Strep throat may also be accompanied by headache, abdominal pain , nausea, or vomiting, especially in children.

Illness typically manifests two to five days after exposure. A doctor cannot tell if someone has strep throat just by looking, so a diagnostic test is needed.

A rapid stress test involves swabbing the throat and running a lab test to see if GAS is the cause of the illness. While most sore throats are caused by viruses, strep throat is caused by bacteria and therefore can only be treated with antibiotics. Parents and adults who are often in contact with children of these ages are more likely to get strep throat than adults who are not. Other symptoms can include fever, swollen glands in the neck, whitish coating on the tongue, and bright red skin in the underarm, elbow, or groin.

The illness typically begins with a fever and sore throat. The rash — caused by a toxin made by strep A bacteria — usually appears a day or two later, although it can begin before the illness or up to seven days later. Scarlet fever is highly contagious. It can be spread from person to person when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes: the bacteria travels in small droplets in the air.

You can get sick by breathing in those droplets or by touching something that the droplets have landed on and touching your nose or mouth. Drinking from the same glass or eating from the same plate as an infected person can also spread the illness. It is also possible to get scarlet fever sores on the skin caused by GAS. Scarlet fever is treated with a course of antibiotics. Complications sometimes occur and can include abscesses around the tonsils, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and sinus and ear infections.

Other, more rare complications can affect the heart, including rheumatic fever, and kidney disease. Like strep throat, scarlet fever is more common in children than adults, particularly those ages 5 through Close contact with someone who has the infection is the biggest risk factor for getting the illness. There is no vaccine for scarlet fever, but people can protect themselves by practicing good hygiene , including using a tissue to cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing, washing hands frequently, using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable, and coughing or sneezing into your upper sleeve or elbow rather than your hands if a tissue is not available.

Impetigo This is an infection of the top layers of skin that typically starts when bacteria gets into a cut, scratch, or insect bite. It is usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus but can also be caused by strep A. It is most common among children ages 2 to 6. Symptoms begin as itchy red or pimple-like sores surrounded by red skin, usually on the face, arms, or legs, that are filled with pus.

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 practice good hygiene, you should:. 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. Take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. 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 Tiny, red spots petechiae — pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye on the roof of the mouth the soft or hard palate Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting — especially in children.

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 makes it sound breathy, raspy, or strained Conjunctivitis also called pink eye It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep to become ill. Children and Certain Adults Are at Increased Risk Anyone can get strep throat, but there are some factors that can increase the risk of getting this common infection.

Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat include: Parents of school-aged children Adults who are often in contact with children Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. These settings include: Schools Daycare centers Military training facilities. Strep Throat: More Common in Children. 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.

Top of Page. Protect Yourself and Others People can get strep throat more than once. Wash your hands often to help prevent germs from spreading. Antibiotics Help Prevent Spreading the Infection to Others 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 12 hours Take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to.

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