How Long Will The Effects Of Strep Throat Last
The symptoms of strep throat may go away as soon as 24 hours after you start treatment. The symptoms rarely last longer than five days.
Not getting treatment for strep throat or not taking all the medicine prescribed can lead to rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can damage the heart valves and affect your joints, kidneys and brain.
How To Feel Better
Some ways you can feel better when you have a sore throat:
- Suck on ice chips, popsicles, or lozenges .
- Use a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer.
- Gargle with salt water.
- Drink warm beverages and plenty of fluids.
- Use honey to relieve cough for adults and children at least 1 year of age or older.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter medicines that can help you feel better. Always use over-the-counter medicines as directed.
How Long Does Strep Throat Last
Strep throat is a common bacterial infection that causes a severe sore throat.
It gets its name because the disease is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes, also called group A streptococcus.
Cases of strep throat come on suddenly, and can be really unpleasantso its natural to wonder how long it will last.
Theres not one single answer: Every persons recovery depends on many factors, including age, other health conditions, and how quickly you get treated.
In this article, Ill answer your questions about how long strep throat lasts, and how its symptoms and causes differ from other sore throats. Ill also explain how strep throat is treated, and when you should talk to your doctor.
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How Do You Feel And Why
Viruses cause many sore throats in both adults and children. A runny nose, cough and hoarseness are usually viral infections. Antibiotics have no effect on viral infections, but your doctor may suggest over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen and throat lozenges to alleviate the pain.
Common infections causing a sore throat might result in other signs and symptoms, including:
How Is A Sore Throat Diagnosed
Your health-care provider will ask about your symptoms and examine your throat. Your provider also will examine you for signs of other illness, such as sinus, chest, or ear infections. Just by looking at your throat, it is often hard for your health-care provider to decide whether a virus or bacteria is causing your sore throat. Your provider may swab your throat to test for strep infection. Some providers have a rapid strep test they can do in the office and get results in a few minutes.
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How Does A Sore Throat Occur
Sore throat is caused by inflammation of the throat . The pharynx is the area behind the tonsils. A sore throat may be the first symptom of a mild illness, such as a cold or the flu, or of more severe illnesses, such as mononucleosis, strep throat or scarlet fever.
A sore throat that comes on suddenly is called acute pharyngitis. It can be caused by bacteria or viruses. A sore throat that lasts for a long time is called chronic pharyngitis. It occurs when a respiratory, sinus, or mouth infection spreads to the throat.
Sore throats can also be caused by:
- Cigarette smoking or second-hand smoke
- Breathing heavily polluted air or chemical fumes
- Swallowing sharp foods that hurt the lining of the throat, such as a tortilla chip
What Causes Recurring Strep Throat
1. Antibiotic Resistance
Many people are diagnosed with recurring strep throat because the type of strep they contracted is resistant to the antibiotic the doctor prescribed. Or, the antibiotic failsto work due to incorrect dosage or allergy.
2. Weak Immune System
A large number of those with recurring strep will also have a weak immune system, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, diagnosed with AIDS or HIV, or those on a corticosteroid. With a weak immune system, people may find it hard to fight against the strep bacteria, therefore the strep throat will occur again and again.
3. Carry Strep Throat Bacteria
Other people have strep throat recur because they or someone they contact often carries the bacteria that causes it. Many people have these bacteria in their throat yet not showing the symptoms and they are known as carriers.
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What To Know About Strep Throat
Strep throat symptoms.
Strep throat, a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils, causes a sore or scratchy throat, as well as white patches on your tonsils.
It is highly contagious during the incubation period the two to five days after youre infected and before symptoms appear and stays contagious until your symptoms resolve, according to Jake Mefford, PA, clinical director for OSF OnCall Urgent Care clinics.
Hand hygiene and disinfecting commonly used surfaces frequently can decrease the risk of transmission of strep, Jake said.
Jake took time to answer more questions about strep:
Is Strep Throat Contagious
Yes. Strep throat is medically known as streptococcal pharyngitis, and is highly contagious.
It is spread by sharing food or utensils with a person who is sick with strep throat.
It may also be passed along from droplets that come from coughing, sneezing, or saliva.
Surface contamination is possible, too, if you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
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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.
Strep throat is more common in children than adults. 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 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. For example, if someone has strep throat, the bacteria often spread to other people in their household.
Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Crowded settings can increase the risk of getting a group A strep infection. These settings include:
- 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
When Is It Time To See A Doctor
Its time to see a doctor when certain symptoms occur. In ChildrenAccording to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should take your child to a doctor if symptoms dont go away with the first drink in the morning. Also, you should get immediate care if your child has severe signs such as difficulty breathing or swallowing or unusual drooling, which might indicate an inability to swallow. In AdultsAccording to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, you should see your doctor if you have a sore throat and any of the following associated conditions:
- A sore throat that is severe or lasts longer than a week
- Difficulty swallowing
- A lump in your neck
- Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks
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What Is Recurring Strep Throat
Strep throat that isn’t cured after just one round of antibiotics or occurs several times each year can be deemed as recurring strep throat. Someone who develops strep throat again and again can also have a strep throat that recurs.
Experts now know that strep throat that recurs can be due to one of more than one factors. In some cases, you contract bacteria in resistant form or the antibiotic failed for certain reason. It is also possible that you have a weak immune system or you or a family member of you is a strep carrier.
How Long Does A Sore Throat Last
The duration of a sore throat depends on whats causing it. Sore throats, also known as pharyngitis, can be acute, lasting only a few days, or chronic, lingering on until their underlying cause is addressed.
Most sore throats are the result of common viruses and resolve on their own within 3 to 10 days. Sore throats caused by a bacterial infection or allergies may last longer.
At-home treatments and prescribed medications can affect the length of time you experience symptoms from a sore throat, such as pain, scratchiness, and trouble swallowing.
Read on to learn more about sore throats and what you can do to improve your recovery.
Sore throats caused by viruses dont require antibiotics. They usually go away with minimal treatment of symptoms in 10 days or less.
At-home treatments and prescribed corticosteroids can reduce the discomfort of these sore throats, which typically go away when the underlying infection resolves.
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Is It Possible To Still Have Strep Throat Even After You Are Done Taking Antibiotic
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A Simple Test Gives Fast Results
A doctor will determine what type of illness you have by asking about symptoms and doing a physical exam. If they think you might have strep throat, they will swab your throat to test for strep throat. There are two types of tests for strep throat: a rapid strep test and throat culture.
A rapid strep test involves swabbing the throat and running a test on the swab. The test quickly shows if group A strep is causing the illness. If the test is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics. If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab. A throat culture takes time to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. While 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 following a strep throat infection.
Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.
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How Is Strep Throat Diagnosed
If your child has a sore throat and other strep throat symptoms, call your doctor. The doctor will likely do a rapid strep test in the office, using a cotton swab to take a sample of the fluids at the back of the throat. The test only takes about 5 minutes.
If it’s positive, your child has strep throat. If it’s negative, the doctor will send a sample to a lab for a throat culture. The results are usually available within a few days.
How Is Strep Throat Treated
Doctors usually prescribe about 10 days of antibiotic medicine to treat strep throat. Within about 24 hours after starting on antibiotics, your child probably won’t have a fever and won’t be contagious. By the second or third day, other symptoms should start to go away.
Even when kids feel better, they should take the antibiotics as prescribed. This is the best way to kill the harmful bacteria. Otherwise, bacteria can stay in the throat and symptoms can come back. Completing all the antibiotics also prevents other health problems that a strep infection can cause, such as rheumatic fever , scarlet fever, blood infections, or kidney disease.
To prevent spreading strep throat to others in your home:
- Keep your child’s eating utensils, dishes, and drinking glasses separate and wash them in hot, soapy water after each use.
- Make sure your child doesn’t share food, drinks, napkins, handkerchiefs, or towels with other family members.
- Teach your child to cover all sneezes or coughs. If a tissue isn’t handy, kids should sneeze or cough into their elbow, not their hands.
- Remind everyone to wash their hands well and often.
- Give your child a new toothbrush after the antibiotic treatment starts and they’re no longer contagious.
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When Should I See A Health
If you have a sore throat and are unable to swallow liquids, you need to be seen as soon as possible. If you have been exposed to someone with strep throat who has not completed their antibiotics and is considered contagious, and now have symptoms, you should see a provider within two days. If you have a sore throat and have not been exposed to strep throat, see your provider if your symptoms have not improved after seven days of home care.
How Can I Take Care Of Myself
Follow the full treatment prescribed by your health-care provider.
For a sore throat:
- Make sure you have enough fluids. Drink clear soup, cold drinks, and other clear, nutritious liquids. If eating hurts your throat, dont force yourself to eat solid food. When you are able to eat more foods, choose healthy food to give you strength and to help fight the infection.
- Do not smoke. Do not breathe second-hand smoke.
- Gargle with salt water.
- Suck on lozenges or hard candy.
- Dont talk a lot. Rest your voice.
- Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air.
- Put warm compresses on your neck.
If you have a fever, rest and limit your activities until the fever is gone. You can take acetaminophen, or ibuprofen, to reduce your fever and to relieve pain. Anyone under age 18 with a fever should not take aspirin because it increases the risk of Reyes syndrome.
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Symptoms Of Strep Throat Infection
- Pain, discomfort or raw feeling of the throat
- Pain is made worse when swallows
- Children less than 2 years of age usually can’t complain about a sore throat. A young child who does not want favorite foods may have a sore throat. They may also start to cry during feedings.
- Other symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.
- Cough, hoarseness, red eyes, and runny nose are not seen with Strep throat. These symptoms point more to a viral cause.
- Scarlet fever rash is highly suggestive of Strep throat.
- If you look at the throat with a light, it will be bright red. The tonsil will be red and swollen, often covered with pus.
- Peak age: 5 to 15 years old. Not common under 2 years old unless sibling has Strep.
How Long Is Strep Throat Contagious
If you become infected with strep, you may not become sick for 2-5 days.
This is called the incubation period.
During this time, you can be contagious with strep throat even before you show symptoms.
You are considered contagious with strep throat until you have been without a fever for at least 24 hours and are starting to feel better, or until you have been taking antibiotics for a full day.
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What Is A Strep Test For A Sore Throat
A rapid strep test checks for streptococcus bacteria infection in the throat. The test is painless and takes very little time. The tip of a cotton swab is used to wipe the back of the throat. The swab is then tested right away. If the strep test is positive, you have strep throat. If the strep test is negative, you likely do not have strep throat. However, if there are strong signs of strep throat, your healthcare provider can do a different throat swab test that is sent to the lab to see if strep bacteria can be grown from it. A throat culture takes a couple of days for results.
How You Get Strep Throat
Group A strep live in the nose and throat and can easily spread to other people. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing, which creates small respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria. They can also spread the bacteria from infected sores on their skin.
It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep to become ill with strep throat.
It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.
People can get sick if they:
- Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria
- Touch something with those droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose
- Drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a person infected with group A strep
- Touch sores on the skin caused by group A strep or come into contact with fluid from the sores
Rarely, people can spread group A strep through food that is not handled properly .
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What Else Do You Need To Make Your Decision
Check the facts
- You’re right. Most of the time, sore throats go away on their own. It may take a few days or up to a week, depending on the cause.
- Sorry, that’s not right. Most of the time, sore throats go away on their own. It may take a few days or up to a week, depending on the cause.
- It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” Most of the time, sore throats go away on their own. It may take a few days or up to a week, depending on the cause.
- You’re right. Taking antibiotics too often or when you don’t need them can be harmful and costly. The medicine may not work the next time you take it when you really do need it.
- Sorry, that’s not right. Taking antibiotics too often or when you don’t need them can be harmful and costly. The medicine may not work the next time you take it when you really do need it.
- It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” Taking antibiotics too often or when you don’t need them can be harmful and costly. The medicine may not work the next time you take it when you really do need it.
- Sorry, that’s not right. Most sore throats are caused by a virus, such as a cold. Antibiotics won’t work for sore throats caused by a virus.
- You’re right. Most sore throats are caused by a virus, such as a cold. Antibiotics won’t work for sore throats caused by a virus.
- It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” Most sore throats are caused by a virus, such as a cold. Antibiotics won’t work for sore throats caused by a virus.