What is strep throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection in the throat and the tonsils. The throat and tonsils get irritated, inflamed, and painful, causing a sudden, severe sore throat.

The most common symptoms of strep throat are:

• A sudden, severe sore throat without coughing, sneezing, runny nose, or other cold symptoms.
• Pain when you swallow, or trouble swallowing.
• A fever.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
• White or yellow spots or coating on the throat and tonsils.
• A bright red throat or dark red spots on the roof of the mouth at the back near the throat.
• Swollen tonsils.

You may also have a headache and belly pain. Less common symptoms are a reddish skin rash, vomiting, not feeling hungry, and body aches.

Your doctor will examine you, ask about your symptoms, and do a throat culture or rapid strep test.

A rapid strep test analyzes the bacteria in your throat to see if strep is causing your sore throat. The doctor uses a cotton swab to gather cells from the back of your throat for testing. This test gives results within about 10 minutes. But sometimes it doesn't show strep even when you have strep. If the rapid test is positive and says that you do have strep, there's no need to do the throat culture.

A throat culture can find strep bacteria. A culture takes 1 or 2 days, but it's better at finding all cases of strep. A sample of cells from the back of your throat is added to a substance that promotes the growth of bacteria. If no bacteria grow, the culture is negative. If strep bacteria grow, the culture is positive.

Doctors usually treat strep throat with antibiotics. These drugs shorten the time that you're able to spread the disease (are contagious) to others. And they lower the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of your body. They also may help you feel better faster.

Your doctor may also advise you to take an over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) to help with pain and lower your fever. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Don't give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness.

• Give your child antibiotics as directed. Do not stop using them just because your child feels better. Your child needs to take the full course of antibiotics.
• Keep your child at home and away from other people for 24 hours after starting the antibiotics. Wash your hands and your child's hands often. Keep drinking glasses and eating utensils separate, and wash these items well in hot, soapy water.
• Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for fever or pain. Do not use ibuprofen if your child is less than 6 months old unless the doctor gave you instructions to use it. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness.
• Do not give your child two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
• Have your child drink lots of water. Frozen ice treats, ice cream, and sherbet also can make your child's throat feel better.
• Soft foods, such as scrambled eggs and gelatin dessert, may be easier for your child to eat.
• Make sure your child gets lots of rest.
• Keep your child away from smoke. Smoke irritates the throat.
• Place a cool-mist humidifier by your child's bed or close to your child. Follow the directions for cleaning the machine.