strep throat Streptococcal tonsillitis

Streptococcal tonsillitis
Streptococcal tonsillitis is a disease that causes sore throat (sore throat). It is an infection with microorganisms called group A streptococcus bacteria.
Causes

Streptococcal tonsillitis is more common in children between the ages of 5 and 15, although anyone can get it.

This disease is spread by person-to-person contact with nasal secretions or saliva. It is often spread among family members or people who live in the same house.
Anatomy of the throat
symptom
Symptoms has been extended.

The symptoms appear more or less 2 to 5 days after coming into contact with the streptococcus. They can be mild or serious.

Common symptoms include:

    Fever that may start suddenly and often peaks on the second day
    Shaking chills
    Throat with redness and pain that may have white spots
    Swallowing pain
    Inflamed and sensitive glands in the neck

Strep throat

Other symptoms may include:

    Sensation of general indisposition
    Inapetence and abnormal taste
    Headache
    Sickness

Some strains of streptococcal tonsillitis can cause a rash similar to scarlet fever. The rash appears first on the neck and thorax. Then, it can spread throughout the body and may feel rough like sandpaper.

The same microorganism that causes strep throat can also cause symptoms of a sinus infection or an ear infection.
Tests and exams
Tests and exams has been extended.

Many other causes of sore throat can have the same symptoms. Your health care provider should do an exam to diagnose strep throat and decide whether to prescribe antibiotics.

A rapid streptococcal test can be done in most providers' offices. However, it can be negative even if the streptococcus is present.

If the strep test is negative and your provider still suspects streptococcus bacteria are causing the sore throat, an exudate from the throat (culture) may be tested to see if these bacteria proliferate there. The results will take 1 or 2 days.
Treatment
Treatment has been extended.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses and not by bacteria.

A sore throat should only be treated with antibiotics if the test for streptococci gives a positive result. Antibiotics are taken to prevent infrequent but more serious health problems, such as rheumatic fever.

It is usually first tested with the penicillin or amoxicillin drugs.

    Certain antibiotics can also work against streptococcus bacteria.
    Antibiotics should be taken for 10 days, although the symptoms often disappear after a few days.

The following tips can help improve sore throats:

    Drinking hot liquids, such as tea with honey or lemon.
    Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (½ teaspoon or 3 g of salt in 1 cup or 240 mL of water).
    Drink cold liquids or suck popsicles of fruit-flavored ice cream.
    Suck hard candy or throat lozenges. These products should not be given to young children because they can drown.
    A fresh air vaporizer or humidifier can moisturize and soothe a dry and painful throat.
    Try over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol.

Expectations (prognosis)
Expectations (prognosis) has been extended.

The symptoms of streptococcal tonsillitis often improve in about 1 week. Without treatment, streptococcus can lead to serious complications.
Possible complications
Possible complications has been extended.
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Streptococcal tonsillitis

Streptococcal tonsillitis is a disease that causes sore throat (sore throat). It is an infection with microorganisms called group A streptococcus bacteria.
Causes

Streptococcal tonsillitis is more common in children between the ages of 5 and 15, although anyone can get it.

This disease is spread by person-to-person contact with nasal secretions or saliva. It is often spread among family members or people who live in the same house.
Anatomy of the throat
symptom
Symptoms has been extended.

The symptoms appear more or less 2 to 5 days after coming into contact with the streptococcus. They can be mild or serious.

Common symptoms include:

    Fever that may start suddenly and often peaks on the second day
    Shaking chills
    Throat with redness and pain that may have white spots
    Swallowing pain
    Inflamed and sensitive glands in the neck

Strep throat

Other symptoms may include:

    Sensation of general indisposition
    Inapetence and abnormal taste
    Headache
    Sickness

Some strains of streptococcal tonsillitis can cause a rash similar to scarlet fever. The rash appears first on the neck and thorax. Then, it can spread throughout the body and may feel rough like sandpaper.

The same microorganism that causes strep throat can also cause symptoms of a sinus infection or an ear infection.
Tests and exams
Tests and exams has been extended.

Many other causes of sore throat can have the same symptoms. Your health care provider should do an exam to diagnose strep throat and decide whether to prescribe antibiotics.

A rapid streptococcal test can be done in most providers' offices. However, it can be negative even if the streptococcus is present.

If the strep test is negative and your provider still suspects streptococcus bacteria are causing the sore throat, an exudate from the throat (culture) may be tested to see if these bacteria proliferate there. The results will take 1 or 2 days.
Treatment
Treatment has been extended.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses and not by bacteria.

A sore throat should only be treated with antibiotics if the test for streptococci gives a positive result. Antibiotics are taken to prevent infrequent but more serious health problems, such as rheumatic fever.

It is usually first tested with the penicillin or amoxicillin drugs.

    Certain antibiotics can also work against streptococcus bacteria.
    Antibiotics should be taken for 10 days, although the symptoms often disappear after a few days.

The following tips can help improve sore throats:

    Drinking hot liquids, such as tea with honey or lemon.
    Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (½ teaspoon or 3 g of salt in 1 cup or 240 mL of water).
    Drink cold liquids or suck popsicles of fruit-flavored ice cream.
    Suck hard candy or throat lozenges. These products should not be given to young children because they can drown.
    A fresh air vaporizer or humidifier can moisturize and soothe a dry and painful throat.
    Try over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol.

Expectations (prognosis)
Expectations (prognosis) has been extended.

The symptoms of streptococcal tonsillitis often improve in about 1 week. Without treatment, streptococcus can lead to serious complications.
Possible complications
Possible complications has been extended.


Complications may include:

    Kidney disease caused by streptococcus
    A skin condition in which small, red, scaly, tear-shaped spots appear on the arms, legs, and middle part of the body, called guttate psoriasis
    Peritonsillar abscess
    Rheumatic fever
    Scarlet fever

When to contact a medical professional
When to contact a medical professional has been extended.

Call your provider if you or your child has symptoms of strep throat. Also, call if symptoms do not improve after 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment.
Prevention
Prevention has been extended.

Most people with streptococci can spread the infection to others until they have received antibiotics for 24 to 48 hours. These people should stay at home away from schools, day care or work until they have been given antibiotics for at least a day.

Get a new toothbrush after 2 or 3 days, but before finishing the antibiotics. Otherwise, the bacteria can live in the brush and reinfect it when the antibiotics are finished. Also, keep family utensils and toothbrushes separate, unless they have been washed.

If there are still cases of the disease in a family, checkups could be done to see if someone is a carrier of the streptococcus. The carriers have streptococci in their throats, but the bacteria do not make them sick. Sometimes treating such carriers may prevent others from contracting strep throat.
Alternative names
Alternative names has been extended.

Strep throat; Strep throat; Tonsillitis - streptococcus; Strep throat
Images
Images has been extended.

    Anatomy of the throatAnatomy of the throat
    Streptococcal pharyngitis Streptococcal pharyngitis

References
References has been extended.

Ebell MH. Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis. Am Fam Physician. 2014; 89 (12): 976-977. PMID: 25162166 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25162166.

AR flowers, Caserta MT. Pharyngitis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015: chap 59.

Shulman ST, Bisno AL, Clegg HW, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis: 2012 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2012; 55 (10): e86-e102. PMID: 22965026 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22965026.

Tanz RR. Acute pharyngitis. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW III, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016: chap 381.

van Driel ML, De Sutter AIM, Keber N, Habraken H, Christiaens T. Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013; 4: CD004406. PMID: 23633318 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23633318.
Last revision 11/1/2015
Last revision 11/1/2015 has been extended.

English version reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Ogilvie Island, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.