Strep throat is most common among children, but it can affect adults as well. In fact, if it’s not treated promptly, it can lead to many serious health complications.

Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Centennial provides some more helpful information.

What Is Strep Throat?

Before you learn what strep can do to your body when left untreated, it’s important to understand what this infection is. According to the CDC, strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by a bacteria group called A Streptococcus, or group A strep.

Strep throat is a very treatable infection, but it can cause lots of complications in the body when left untreated. Some of the most notable complications are ear infections and sinusitis. Strep throat is an easy infection to catch, and we’ve listed some common ways people get sick with it below.

Common Ways to Catch Strep Throat

• Breathing in respiratory droplets containing strep bacteria
• Touching something with droplets on it and then touch the mouth or nose
• Drinking from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a sick person
• Touching sores on the skin caused by group A strep

What If I Just Have a Sore Throat?

It’s possible, but there is one symptom to be on the lookout for: a cough. While a sore throat is a common symptom of both strep throat and a cold virus, a cough is only a symptom of a cold.

If you have a painful sore throat without a cough, visit your doctor. If your doctor suspects strep throat, he or she will likely perform a rapid strep test to confirm his or her diagnosis. Strep tests provide reliable results and aren’t usually painful.

More Common Strep Throat Symptoms

• A sudden fever, especially if it’s 101˚F or higher
• A sore, red throat with white patches
• A headache
• Chills
• A loss of appetite
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Trouble swallowing

Do you believe you have strep throat? If so, don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Centennial team today!