Strep Throat Infection

A strep throat infection is a type of infection that is caused due to the streptococcal bacteria.

The most common cause of a  sore throat is a viral infection that is not related. However, due to complications and secondary infection, the throat can become infected with the streptococcus bacteria making the infection bacterial in nature. In this situation, antibiotics are needed to treat it.

However, due to the disadvantages of taking antibiotics without good reason, a strep test is performed to ascertain the presence of these pathogens. We have already seen the rapid strep test as well as the home strep test in earlier articles.

Strep infections account for the majority of bacterial related throat infections. Unless treated, severe complications can arise such as scarlet fever and rheumatic fever.

The strep throat infection is extremely contagious. In fact, a person is deemed contagious even after starting antibiotic treatment for upto three days or so. Even those without any visible symptoms can act as carriers for the bacteria and pass it onto others. Such people are called colonizers.

Strep throat is cause by the Group A streptococcus pathogen and is very different from the Group B pathogen that affects newborn infants.