Strep throat is an infection caused by group A. Streptococcus bacterium in the throat. Streptococcal bacteria can easily spread through airborne droplets due to an infected person sneezing or coughing. Shared food and drinks or surfaces containing the bacteria also can pass along the bacteria. This bacterial infection typically causes the throat to feel extremely sore and uncomfortable. However, only a small number of sore throats are caused by the group A strep bacteria and diagnosed as strep throat. Strep throat is more common among children than adults.

The symptoms of strep throat can vary greatly, and it’s possible that a child or adult can display many of the symptoms without having strep throat. The throat pain associated with strep throat typically comes on quickly and can include pain swallowing, reddening of the tonsils, and small red spots at the back of the mouth. Additional symptoms of strep throat may include:

• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting (especially in children)
• Body aches
• Rash

Strep throat is not considered an extremely dangerous illness, but it can lead to more serious complications. Strep bacteria can spread and infect other areas of the body, such as the tonsils, sinuses, middle ear, blood, and skin. It also may lead to inflammatory illnesses, such as inflammation of the kidney, rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, and more. Strep throat is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15.

An online doctor for strep throat can often diagnose strep throat quickly and determine if treatment is required. One of our qualified SAMI-Aid physicians will ask a series of strep-throat-targeted questions to determine if your symptoms are caused by streptococcal bacteria. The physician may ask you to touch the lymph nodes on your neck or shine a light toward the back of your throat. Our strep throat online doctor also may refer a patient to a specialist if an in-person rapid strep throat test is indicated.

A positive test or the confirmation of certain symptoms will typically lead doctors to prescribe antibiotics for this bacterial infection. They may also recommend rest, the use of lozenges, consuming more fluids, or over-the-counter pain relievers while waiting for the antibiotics to begin working. Patients likely will start feeling better after just a day or two of antibiotics.