When you think of early spring, birdsong and blooming flowers come to mind. Unfortunately, another common sign of the season is a rise in strep throat cases. While strep throat can strike at any time of year, it spreads more easily during certain seasons. Below is your guide to understanding how strep throat spreads and how to stay healthy when it’s going around.
What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils by a type of bacteria known as Group A Streptococcus. The infection causes inflammation that makes your throat feel sore. While strep throat is most common in children ages 5 to 15, it can affect people of all ages and is one of the leading causes of sore throat in both children and adults.
Strep Throat Symptoms
Strep throat often starts with the sudden onset of a sore throat followed by pain when swallowing, a high fever, chills, headache, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and nausea. Unlike viral infections, you will not have a cough with strep throat.
How Does Strep Throat Spread?
Strep throat is highly contagious, especially in places where people are in close contact like schools, churches, and daycares. Some individuals can carry and spread the bacteria without showing obvious symptoms. The infection spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It can also be passed along by touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the bacteria, or by sharing food, drinks, or utensils. Being in the same room as infected individuals and breathing the same air can increase your chances of exposure.
