Strep throat is a common bacterial infection, accounting for about 15% of all sore throats that get diagnosed in the doctor’s office.
It’s called "strep" throat because the bacterium that causes it belongs to the class known as group A streptococcus (GAS). Although strep throat can occur any time during the year, late winter and early spring are considered to be peak seasons for strep throat infections.
Sore throat is one of the leading complaints that bring people to the doctor’s office, and the majority of adults with sore throats are treated with antibiotics, though fewer than half of the people given antibiotics actually have bacterial infections. Most of the rest have viral infections that are not affected by antibiotics.
When used appropriately, antibiotics are very helpful in fighting infection. However, antibiotics used inappropriately can be bad for you, killing harmless bacteria that may be keeping dangerous bacteria out of your intestines. It is important to learn about appropriate (and unnecessary) antibiotic use, which includes not pressing a doctor for antibiotics when the doctor says they aren’t needed.
Streptococci are everywhere – many people carry it on their skin and throat. They don’t always cause disease: that is, they don’t always cause strep throat infection. However, streptococci are infectious. They are passed around in the same way as cold viruses, by coughing, sneezing, or getting mucus or saliva on the hand, then touching other people. They are less contagious than a cold virus, however.
The vast majority of streptococcal throat infections will go away on their own even without treatment, and the chance of rheumatic fever or meningitis is small even if you don’t go to the doctor. The main reason to use antibiotics is to prevent these very rare but serious complications; not to treat the throat symptoms. The majority of sore throats do not get seen by a doctor, yet hardly any of these untreated patients develop complications.
You can help manage symptoms such as pain caused by sore throat with over-the-counter products like acetaminophen* or ibuprofen.
The most commonly used antibiotics to treat strep throat are from the penicillin class of antibiotics. They are available by prescription and come as oral tablets, capsules, or liquid suspensions. They are prescribed for a period of 5 to 10 days. Be sure to mention to your doctor if you have allergies to any medications.
Most of the people given oral antibiotics for sore throat don’t have bacterial infections, so they can’t possibly benefit from these medications. They can, however, be harmed by antibiotics. You shouldn’t take antibiotics for a sore throat unless you’ve had a bacterial infection properly diagnosed or unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. However, if you are treated with antibiotics, finish the course of treatment! This will help to prevent antibiotic resistance.
These tips may help people to stay healthy in the presence of the streptococcus bacteria:
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Strep-Throat
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