Caused by the streptococcus, strep throat is an infection that can be spread in various ways. If you make contact with droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze, you may be at risk of strep throat. However, you may also develop strep throat after the bacteria has been lingering in your home or at school on different surfaces that you use daily. While it affects children mostly, strep throat can affect people of all ages. Knowing the signs of this infection is key for quick and effective treatment. Here are a few common signs of strep throat.

Sore Throat

A sore throat is one of the most common signs of strep throat, but just because you have a sore throat does not mean you have the strep infection.

If your throat feels swollen and is painful to the point where it hurts to swallow, the sore throat is most likely due to a strep infection. It is important to address the underlying infection to ensure it does not spread to other areas of your body, but addressing the infection is also necessary for improving your ability to swallow, eat, and recover from your illness.

Many patients also have swollen lymph nodes, which are easily felt on the sides of the neck under the area of the ears.

Redness/Patches/Spots in Throat

When you visit the doctor for your throat pain, they will ask to look inside your mouth to examine your throat. Surprisingly, the strep infection will show visible signs.

One of the first noticeable signs of strep will be redness inside the throat and around the tonsils. This redness may also be noticeable around the tongue and gum tissue in severe cases.

Small red spots on the back of the throat are also common with the strep infection. Many people develop white patches and streaky areas of pus towards the back of the mouth and inside the throat, too.

Fever

There are many reasons why someone would develop a fever. Remember that this increase in body temperature occurs because the immune system is attempting to fight off an illness or infection of some sort, so it is a good and beneficial part of your recovery.

Fevers can be dangerous, though, if not addressed. Make sure to take ibuprofen until you are prescribed your antibiotics to deal with the underlying strep infection.

With proper understanding and an efficient diagnosis, you can start antibiotics to begin treating the strep infection. If you are experiencing one or more of these signs, make sure to visit a doctor, such as at La Costa Urgent Care.