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Red and inflamed
- If you have strep throat, your throat may look red and inflamed. You may have red spots called petechiae on the roof of your mouth. Your tonsils may be enlarged with white or yellow spots. You may also have swollen lymph nodes in the front of your neck.
www.health.harvard.edu › diseases-and-conditions › strep-throat-symptoms-causes-and-treatmentStrep throat: Symptoms, causes, and treatment - Harvard Health
Nov 19, 2022 · WebMD explores the types and causes of sore throat, including strep throat, and shows you how to find relief from that raw, scratchy feeling.
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Jan 30, 2023 · Red or watery eyes. Sneezing. Cough. So, what’s the difference between a sore throat and strep throat? For starters, having a cough is a major symptom that sets a sore throat apart from strep. “You do not have a cough with strep. If you’re coughing, that typically means no strep,” says Dr. Allan.
- It's an infection of your throat and sometimes tonsils. "Strep" is short for "group A streptococcus," the type of bacteria that causes it. Your throat may get sore and scratchy.
- Strep bacteria spreads easily from person to person. You can get it if you: Breathe in tiny droplets from a sick person's cough or sneeze. Get droplets on your hands and then touch your mouth or nose.
- Besides a sore throat that starts quickly, you can have pain when you swallow, a fever, red and swollen tonsils that sometimes have white patches or streaks of pus, red spots on the roof of your mouth, and swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck.
- To find out if you have strep, your doctor will swab the back of your throat to get some mucus. A technician will try to grow, or "culture," any bacteria that might be there.
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Signs and symptoms of strep throat can include:
•Throat pain that usually comes on quickly
•Painful swallowing
•Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
•Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)
•Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck
Call your doctor if you or your child has any of these signs and symptoms:
•A sore throat accompanied by tender, swollen lymph glands
•A sore throat that lasts longer than 48 hours
•A fever
•A sore throat accompanied by a rash
•Problems breathing or swallowing
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Strep throat is caused by infection with a bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes, also called group A streptococcus.
Streptococcal bacteria are contagious. They can spread through droplets when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes, or through shared food or drinks. You can also pick up the bacteria from a doorknob or other surface and transfer them to your nose, mouth or eyes.
Several factors can increase your risk of strep throat infection:
•Young age. Strep throat occurs most commonly in children.
Spread of infection
Strep bacteria may spread, causing infection in:
Inflammatory reactions
Strep infection may lead to inflammatory illnesses, including:
To prevent strep infection:
•Wash your hands. Proper hand-washing is the best way to prevent all kinds of infections. That's why it's important to wash your own hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Teach your children how to wash their hands properly using soap and water or to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if there is no soap and water available.
•Cover your mouth. Teach your children to cover their mouths with an elbow or tissue when they cough or sneeze.
•Don't share personal items. Don't share drinking glasses or eating utensils. Wash dishes in hot, soapy water or in a dishwasher.
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By Mayo Clinic Staff
•Know the signs of strep throat in children
Strep throat is a common bacterial infection that can cause inflammation, irritation and disoloration of the throat. Learn more about recognizing symptoms here.
Dec 20, 2022 · What does strep throat look like? If you have strep throat, your throat and tonsils may appear red, sore and swollen. You may also have white patches, spots or streaks of pus on your throat and tonsils.
Nov 20, 2023 · What does strep throat look like? If you have strep throat, your throat may look red and inflamed. You may have red spots called petechiae on the roof of your mouth.
