In this article, we will describe what is a strep A throat, its symptoms and how you know if you have it.
Strep A causing a tonsillitis, with red swollen tonsils and pus in them
So. How do I know if I have strep A? First if all, we will go through some basics.
‘Strep A’ is an abbreviation for a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes; also called ‘group A strep’ or ‘GAS’).
‘Strep throat’ is a throat infection (pharyngitis) – which shows itself as a sore throat – caused by strep A bacteria. Strep A can cause other infections, including skin infections (impetigo and scarlet fever), rheumatic fever (heart valve infection), and other infections (see list at end of the linked article).
No. Most strep A infections are mild and get better with no treatment. It usually lasts 3-5 days without treatment and you will be better in a week. Some need treatment with antibiotics. But it can cause sepsis, i.e. can be very serious.
People with strep A are very contagious.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses. But bacteria can cause them as well. Strep A is an example of those bacteria, and can cause an infection of the throat (pharyngitis) and tonsils (tonsillitis).
The short answer is that it is very difficult.
Strep A is hard to distinguish from other viral and bacterial causes of sore throat; as well as common cold, flu and (yes) COVID-19. All can cause a sore throat and all the symptoms of strep A listed below.
Strep A infections are spread by close contact with an infected person. They can be passed on through coughs and sneezes or from a wound.
In some people, the bacteria live in the body without causing symptoms or making them feel unwell. But they can still pass the bacteria on to others.
It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep bacteria to become ill with strep throat.
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.
Age
Strep throat is more common in children. It is most common in children 5 through 15 years old. It is very rare in children younger than 3 years old.
Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat
Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. For example, if someone has strep throat, the bacteria often spread to other people in their household.
Common symptoms of strep A include:
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Impetigo
Cellulitis
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:
Rapid strep test (RST)
A rapid strep test involves swabbing the throat and running a test on the swab. The test shows in minutes if group A strep bacteria are causing the illness.
Throat culture
A throat culture also involves a swab. It takes 2-3 days to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. Whilst it takes more time, a throat culture sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test misses.
Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated strep throat infection. For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever.
We have described 10 strep A facts. We hope you understand it better now.