February 6, Feeling sick and have a sore throat? But these symptoms may be a sign that you should get tested. Strep throat may not feel much different than having a sore throat that accompanies any type of common virus, like the cold, flu or COVID But it can also feel a lot worse and be very painful. Here are common symptoms of this condition:. You may also have other symptoms, including a headache, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting.
However, strep throat does not cause a cough, runny nose or hoarseness. If you have these symptoms accompanying your sore throat, it is more likely that a virus is causing your illness and not strep throat. Strep throat is a bacterial infection and is not caused by a virus. It is caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus and is very contagious. This bacteria can be spread from person to person by coming in contact with respiratory droplets by coughing, sneezing or talking or directly touching infected sores on the skin of someone with impetigo, which is also caused by group A strep bacteria.
It typically takes 2 β 5 days to become sick after being exposed to group A strep bacteria. Anyone can get strep throat but there are a few things that may increase your risk. These include:. If a doctor thinks you have strep throat after hearing about your symptoms and doing a physical exam, he or she will likely test for strep. This is a quick test that involves swabbing your throat to see if the group A strep bacteria is present.
If the test is positive, antibiotics are prescribed to treat the infection. You should start feeling better in a day or two after beginning the antibiotics. But even if you start to feel better, the entire course of antibiotics should be taken as prescribed to prevent a recurrence of the infection. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein without the express approval of Baldwin Publishing, Inc.
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