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Student Health Services > Strep Throat Information

Commonly known as strep throat, Streptococcal Pharyngitis accounts for about 95% of all cases of bacterial infections of sore throats.  The infection is common in children ages 5 to 10 and occurs primarily from October to April.

What Causes Strep Throat?
The Streptococcal Bacteria that causes this infection is spread by direct person-to-person contact through droplets of saliva or nasal secretions.  The streptococci frequently live in the throats of persons who have no symptoms and these individuals are called carriers.  Up to 20% of school children may be carriers without being sick.

What Are the Signs of Illness?
After a 1-5 day waiting period, illness may include:

  • oral temperature of 101ºF to 104ºF
  • sore throat with severe pain on swallowing
  • a beefy red colored throat
  • pus on the tonsils
  • swollen tonsils and uvula
  • swollen glands along the jaw line
  • generalized weakness and fatigue
  • loss of appetite
  • stomach pain

Up to 40% of small children have symptoms too mild for diagnosis.  Usually, the fever goes away in 3-5 days, and nearly all symptoms are gone within a week.  Rarely the bacteria may spread and cause arthritis, heart problems, meningitis, bone infections, or kidney or liver problems.

How Do I Know If I Have Strep Throat?
Strep throat may be detected by various tests, including:

  • throat culture showing group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (carriers have a positive throat culture)
  • elevated white blood cell count on a blood test
  • blood cells showing a rise in streptozyme levels in the blood when you are getting better

What Is the Treatment?
The usual treatment for strep throat is antibiotic therapy with penicillin or erythromycin.

REMEMBER!

  • Bed rest and isolation from others for 24 hours after antibiotic therapy begins are very important.
  • You must finish the full prescription and not skip doses, even if you feel better.
  • Serious infections of the kidney, liver, and heart can occur if the medicine is stopped before all of the bacteria causing the infection have been killed.
  • You must use tissues and quickly throw away used tissues.
  • Wash your hands frequently to prevent spread of infection.
  • If a sore throat has a lot of pain, swelling, and fever, you need to go to your health care provider for medication.
  • If the sore throat continues after completing the prescribed medication, return to your health care provider.