Strep Throat

Strep throat is an infection in your throat and tonsils (the lymph nodes in the back of your mouth). With strep throat, your tonsils become very inflamed. This inflammation typically affects the surrounding area of your throat as well, which causes a sore throat (pharyngitis).

Strep throat gets its name from the type of bacteria that causes it — group A Streptococcus. There are more than 120 strains of group A Streptococcus bacteria. Strep throat is a type of group A streptococcal (GAS) infection.

Strep throat rarely causes more serious illnesses such as rheumatic fever, a disease that can cause permanent damage to your heart and heart valves. Therefore, it’s important to see a healthcare provider for a prompt diagnosis and treatment. With proper treatment, your strep throat should resolve within seven to 10 days.

Who does strep throat affect?

Strep throat is most common in school-aged children between the ages of 5 and 15. But it can affect siblings, parents, teachers and other caregivers that have direct contact with a school-aged child.

In addition, people in group settings have a higher risk of getting strep throat. Group settings may include households, daycares, schools (including colleges) and military barracks.

How common is strep throat?

Healthcare providers see more than 616 million new cases of strep throat around the world each year. Strep throat is the most common cause of sore throat in adults and children. The condition accounts for 5% to 15% of new cases of sore throat in adults in the U.S. It accounts for 15% to 35% of new cases of sore throat in children in the U.S.