• This is an infection of the throat and tonsils that is caused by Group A streptococci bacteria.  It is transmitted by infected saliva droplets
  

• Fever
  
• Sore throat
  
• Pain on swallowing
  
• Swollen lymph glands in the back of the neck
  
• Fatigue
  
• Nausea
  

• Examination:
  

1. Elevated white blood cell count
   
2. Rapid strep antigen testing from a throat swab
   
3. Culture is more accurate than rapid strep testing, but takes about 48 hours to make the diagnosis
   

• Antibiotics -- many are effective, including penicillin, amoxicillin, or erythromycin
  

• Peritonsillar Abscess
  
• Sinusitis
  
• Mastoiditis
  
• Otitis Media
  
• Infection of Cervical lymph glands
  
• Rheumatic Fever
  
• Glomerulonephritis (an inflammatory disease of the kidney)
  
• Rheumatic Heart Disease
  

• Viral Pharyngitis
  
• Mononucleosis
  
• Diphtheria
  
• Epiglottis
  
• HIV Infection
  
• Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivostomatitis
  

• Special Consideration

- It is very important that "strep" throat be treated with antibiotics.  You should not try to fight the infection yourself.  Certain Proteins in the Group A streptococcus bacterium resemble those of human heart valves.  Therefore, if you fight off the infection yourself, you may form antibodies that can attack your heart valves, and hence get Rheumatic heart disease.  This may lead to permanent heart damage that occurs years later.