What is strep throat? Strep throat is a streptococcus bacterial infection affecting the throat and tonsils. If you have strep throat, you might experience a sore throat, swollen tonsils, a high temperature, headaches, and even white patches in your throat.
Strep throat is contagious, and anyone can catch it, but it’s most common in children and teenagers. Strep throat in adults is less common.
Most strep throat cases are mild and can be treated effectively with antibiotics. However, in some cases, it can progress and cause serious complications.
Here’s a handy guide to strep throat in adults. Learn the signs of early strep throat, symptoms, causes, treatments, and how to prevent catching it.
Causes of strep throat
So, how do you catch strep throat? It’s caused by a type of bacteria called group A Streptococcus (GAS), which live in the nose and throat. This infection primarily affects the throat and tonsils, leading to inflammation, redness, and discomfort.
There are several ways that strep throat can be transmitted.
How do you get strep throat?
1. Exposure to bacteria: Strep throat is contagious, and it spreads through close contact with an infected person who is coughing, sneezing, or talking. The bacteria can be carried in tiny droplets of saliva and mucus, which can be inhaled by others or deposited on surfaces. You can also get infected with strep throat by kissing an infected person.
2. Shared food or drink: Consuming food or drinks that have been contaminated with group A strep bacteria by an infected person can also lead to strep throat. Using the same cutlery, cups, or plates as someone with the infection can transfer the bacteria to your mouth.
3. Contact with contaminated objects: Touching objects that have been contaminated with strep bacteria, such as doorknobs, faucets, or toys, can transfer the bacteria to your hands. If you then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, the bacteria can enter your body and potentially cause an infection.
Strep throat symptoms
There are multiple signs and symptoms of strep throat to look out for if you suspect you have the infection.
Common strep throat symptoms in adults include:
A sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
A fever (38˚C or higher)
White patches in your throat
Red spots on the roof of your mouth
Difficulty swallowing
Body chills
Headache
Loss of appetite
Less common strep infection symptoms include:
Stomach ache
Nausea or vomiting
Rash
Strep throat remedies
If you suspect you have strep throat, you should see a doctor. After testing you for the infection, they’ll prescribe antibiotics as a strep throat treatment. If strep throat is left untreated, it can result in serious complications like pneumonia, rheumatic fever, blood poisoning, meningitis, and, in rare cases, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS).
If you’re prescribed antibiotics, make sure you complete the full treatment course, even if you feel better. This ensures all bacteria are killed to prevent a relapse.
Whilst taking your antibiotics, there are some throat pain remedies and strep throat treatment you can try at home to alleviate discomfort.
Strep throat remedies to make you more comfortable include:
Get plenty of rest to help your body recover.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Drink warm liquids, like tea or soup, to soothe the throat.
Drinking cold liquids to numb the throat.
Eat soft foods like yoghurt and mashed potato to swallow more comfortably.
Take painkillers like ibuprofen.
Such as throat lozenges, ice chips, and ice pops to ease throat pain.
Gargle a salt and warm water mixture to kill bacteria in the throat.
Get a new toothbrush (or toothbrush head for electric toothbrushes).
Strep throat prevention
Want to know how to prevent strep throat? The best way to prevent strep throat is to steer clear of anyone with symptoms. Make sure you wash your hands regularly with warm water and soap and avoid touching your face – especially your mouth and nose.
If you can’t avoid close contact with an infected person (if you’re caring for them, for example), wear a face mask and ask them to as well. Don’t share things like cutlery, cups, towels, or food and drink to reduce the risk of contracting strep throat. Make sure you thoroughly wash utensils used by infected people with hot, soapy water to kill any bacteria.
If you contract strep throat, there are a few things you can do to protect others:
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Wash your hands regularly.
Disinfect touch points in shared bathrooms after every use.
After you’ve been on antibiotics for three days, throw out your toothbrush and get a new one (or replace your toothbrush head on electric brushes).
Take the full course of antibiotics, even if you feel better.
FAQs about strep throat
How to get rid of strep throat overnight?
It’s not possible to get rid of strep throat overnight. To get rid of it quickly, you should visit your GP who will prescribe antibiotics. You must complete the full course of antibiotics to get better.
Can you cure strep throat without antibiotics?
Strep throat can go away on its own without antibiotics. However, you’ll remain contagious for several weeks afterwards without antibiotics, and there’s a risk of severe complications if the strep throat doesn’t get better.
Can you treat strep throat at home?
If you think you have strep throat, you should visit your GP who can prescribe antibiotics to treat it. To help ease symptoms at home, you can get plenty of rest, take painkillers, drink warm liquids, eat soft foods, and suck on ice chips and lozenges.