5 Common Signs of Strep Throat

When you have a sore and scratchy throat, sometimes it can be tough to determine what’s causing it. Viral infections, such as a cold or the flu, or allergies can cause a sore throat along with upper respiratory symptoms like a runny nose and cough. But another possible cause is strep throat.

Although a sore throat from a virus or allergies resolves on its own, strep throat always requires medical treatment. Untreated strep throat puts you at risk for all sorts of dangerous health complications.

At San Feliz Urgent Care in Glendale, California, our urgent care team understands that getting your sore throat looked at and treated can be a hassle. So, we offer prompt and efficient urgent care to diagnose your strep throat and quickly get you the necessary treatments. 

In this month’s blog, we discuss common signs of strep throat that indicate it's time to get your sore throat treated.

What is strep throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that gets its name from the bacteria that trigger its development: group A Streptococcus.  The infection causes inflammation in your throat and tonsils, causing them to be very red, swollen, and sore. 

This bacterial infection is incredibly contagious, and you can contract it by coming into contact with cough or sneeze droplets or sharing food or beverages with someone who has the infection. Strep throat does tend to be more common in children, but adults can still get it. 

If strep throat is left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications such as:

• Ear infections
• Sinus infections
• Rheumatic fever
• Scarlet fever
• Kidney inflammation  

Repeated episodes of strep throat may also make tonsil removal necessary.

What are common signs of strep throat?

Strep throat has a few characteristic signs and symptoms that set it apart from a sore throat that comes with a cold or allergies. You should get tested for strep throat if you experience the following along with your sore throat:

1. High fever
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Chills
4. Severe headache 
5. Loss of appetite 

One of the most noteworthy things about strep throat is that it isn’t accompanied by any upper respiratory symptoms such as a runny nose or cough. If you have sneezing, congestion, and a cough with your sore throat, it most likely isn’t strep. 

Get expert care for your strep throat

At San Feliz Urgent Care, we offer rapid strep throat testing so you can get quick results and start treatment as soon as possible, which typically involves taking antibiotics. 

To schedule your strep test, simply call 818.296.0201 or book online today.