according to the CDC. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Fountain City shares some more helpful info on this common bacterial infection.
How Do I Know If I Have Strep Throat?
First, before you know its first symptoms, it’s important to know exactly what this common infection is. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, which causes throat pain and inflammation. While the overall symptoms of strep throat vary a little bit, the first symptoms typically remain consistent. In many cases, the first symptoms of this infection are a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and a fever. We’ve listed some more common symptoms of strep throat below.Common Strep Throat Symptoms
- Sore, red throat with white patches
- Headache
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Trouble swallowing
If I Have a Sore Throat, Should I Get a Strep Test?
It depends on whether or not you have a cough. While a sore throat is one of the first signs of strep throat, one of the tell-tale differences between a sore throat and strep throat is the absence or presence of a cough. According to experts, a cough typically means that you don’t have strep. If you have a painfully sore throat in addition to any of the symptoms we mentioned earlier, it’s time to visit your doctor. Your doctor will likely perform a rapid strep test, which is a reliable and accurate test. If you experience the symptoms that we’ve listed below in addition to your sore throat, it’s likely that you are experiencing a cold instead of strep throat.How to Tell If It’s Only a Sore Throat
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Red or watery eyes
- Sneezing