Key Symptoms and Complications of Strep Throat

Are you having a sudden and severe sore throat but don't have other cold like symptoms? Do you have a fever over 101 degrees and having difficulty swallowing? You may have strep throat.

Below are seven common symptoms showing you have strep throat:

1. The first symptom that occurs when you have strep throat is a sudden and severe sore throat that occurs without sneezing, coughing, or other common cold symptoms.

2. The second common symptom for a sore throat is if you get a pain from swallowing. If you do not have pain swallowing you may also look for difficulty swallowing.

3. The third symptom is a fever over 101 degrees. If the fever is lower than 101 degrees that may indicate you have a viral infection and not strep throat.

4. The fourth symptom is swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

5. The fifth symptom you will see is yellow or white spots and/or coating on the throat and tonsils.

6. The sixth symptom will be dark red spots on the roof of your mouth near the throat and also a bright red throat.

7.The final common symptom are swollen tonsils. This symptom, like the fever, may also be caused by a viral infection.

If you are or have a teenager who think they are experiencing strep it is important that you look through the symptoms of mononucleosis. "Mono" has similar symptoms of strep throat also with severe sore throat.

What Happens If You Get Strep?

The above symptoms will usually begin anywhere from two-five days after being exposed to someone who has a strep infection. Step will go away in about 3 days at the earliest and 7 days at the latest. Although antibiotic treatment will help the infection will go away with or without treatment and at about the same time. If you have allergies or irritants that are causing your sore throat it will take longer to get ride of it unless you eliminate the cause.

Although antibiotics do not shorten the amount of time you will suffer from symptoms they do help to make you less contagious in about 48 hours from the point you start. If you do not take them you will be contagious for two-three weeks even if the symptoms you suffer from go away.

Complications of Strep: