Strep throat is a type of bacterial infection that most often affects children between the ages of 5 and 15. It is caused by specific bacteria known as group A streptococcus bacteria (also known as GAS or Streptococcus pyogenes).
Symptoms can include fever, white patches of pus on the back of the throat, and a red and painful throat that begins suddenly. A cough and/or runny nose do not usually occur in someone with strep throat. These symptoms are more common with a
sore throat caused by a virus. It is also uncommon for someone with strep throat to have a sore throat for more than one week.
Treatment for strep throat typically involves antibiotics, such as penicillin or
amoxicillin. Within 24 hours of starting antibiotics, a person's temperature should drop. After two or three days, other symptoms of strep throat should start to improve. A person is no longer contagious after they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours.
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