Understanding the Dangers of Untreated Strep Throat

Strep throat is a common and highly contagious infection that stems from a group of bacteria known as Group A Streptococcus. Once it sets in, the pain can make even the simple act of swallowing difficult. 

Thankfully, strep throat is very treatable when it’s addressed early. For numerous reasons, you don’t want to delay treatment.

From our four locations in the metro Portland, Oregon, area, our dedicated team at Sellwood Medical Clinic diagnoses and treats strep throat to alleviate symptoms and stave off potentially serious complications.

Let’s take a closer look at strep throat, including what can happen if it goes untreated.

Who gets strep throat

While anyone can develop strep throat, it’s most common in kids ages 5-15. Strep throat is responsible for up to 35% of sore throats in children and up to 15% of sore throats in adults.

Other risk factors for strep throat include spending time in indoor, crowded spaces, such as daycares, spending a lot of time in smoke-filled or otherwise polluted air, and having a compromised immune system. This is because strep throat often spreads through inhaled droplets in the air.

Strep throat can also spread through contaminated surfaces, such as drinking glasses, doorknobs, and countertops. So things like sharing drinkware and not washing your hands properly are definite risk factors.

Strep throat symptoms

Strep throat usually causes a sudden sore throat. Beyond that, you may experience:

• Abdominal pain
• Chills
• Fever, with the highest temperature on day two
• Headache
• Reduced appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swollen glands

If you develop a cough, it’s more likely you have a viral infection than strep throat.

What happens if you don’t treat strep throat

Left untreated, strep throat can intensify throughout your body, making way for a range of serious effects. Advanced strep throat can lead to:

• Abscesses in your neck or tonsils
• Sinus or ear infection 
• Kidney inflammation
• Rheumatic fever, which can cause heart damage and stroke
• Scarlet fever (scarlatina), which appears as a rash

Some children develop pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) without strep treatment. Signs include at least three episodes of tics or worsening obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms.

Preventing strep complications

Early treatment is the best way to bring strep relief and guard against dangerous complications. We can diagnose strep with a simple throat culture at a sick or same-day visit.

Strep throat treatment involves a course of antibiotics. The medication typically starts to help quickly, but you should continue taking the full prescribed amount. In most cases, strep becomes far less contagious within 24-48 hours of starting to take antibiotics. Untreated strep may remain contagious for up to three weeks.

To learn more about strep throat complications or to get the quality care you need, call Sellwood Medical Clinic today or book an appointment online here.