A sore throat refers to discomfort, pain, or a scratchy sensation in the throat. This common ailment arises when the back of your throat becomes inflamed. While many sore throats are caused by viruses, some are the result of bacterial infections. Bacterial sore throats require specific medical intervention to prevent further health issues.
The Main Bacterial Culprit
The most frequent bacterial cause of a sore throat is Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS), leading to strep throat. This bacterium primarily affects the throat and tonsils, causing inflammation and discomfort. Strep throat is particularly prevalent in children aged 5 to 15 years, although it can affect individuals of all ages.
GAS bacteria are contagious and spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. People can also contract the bacteria by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their nose, mouth, or eyes. Streptococcus pyogenes remains the primary concern due to its prevalence and potential for complications.
Identifying Bacterial Sore Throats
Differentiating a bacterial sore throat from a viral one can be challenging, as symptoms can overlap significantly. Strep throat presents with sudden throat pain, often accompanied by a fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C), headache, and painful swallowing. Other indicators include red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus, swollen and tender lymph nodes in the neck, and tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth.
A key distinction is the absence of cough, runny nose, or hoarseness in strep throat cases, which are more commonly associated with viral infections. Because symptoms alone are not enough for a definitive diagnosis, medical testing is necessary. A healthcare provider can perform a rapid strep test using a throat swab to detect GAS bacteria quickly, often within minutes. If the rapid test is negative but strep throat is still suspected, a throat culture may be performed. This involves growing bacteria from a swab sample in a lab over one to two days for confirmation.
Treatment and Preventing Complications
Antibiotics are the standard treatment for bacterial sore throats. Penicillin and amoxicillin are commonly prescribed and are effective against Streptococcus pyogenes. For individuals with penicillin allergies, alternative antibiotics like cephalexin, azithromycin, or clindamycin may be used. Treatment with antibiotics is important to shorten symptoms, reduce contagiousness, and prevent serious complications.
Untreated strep throat can lead to several severe health issues. One complication is acute rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can affect the heart, joints, nervous system, and skin, potentially causing permanent heart valve damage. Another complication is post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), a kidney disorder involving inflammation of the kidney’s filtering units, which can occur one to two weeks after a strep throat infection. Other complications like peritonsillar abscesses, pneumonia, or ear infections can also develop if the infection spreads. Practicing good hand hygiene, avoiding sharing personal items, and covering coughs and sneezes are effective strategies to help prevent the spread of strep throat.