Strep Throat in Adults

Strep throat is characterized by infection in the mucous lining of the pharynx. At times, infection spreads to the larynx and tonsils too. Though it is more common amongst kids and teens, strep throat can also affect people of older age groups. In adults, strep infection accounts to about 5 - 10 percent of throat soreness. In medical terminology, strep throat is referred to as streptococcal pharyngitis.

Strep Throat in Adults: Causes and Symptoms

The pathogen responsible for causing strep throat is Group A streptococcus (abbreviated as GAS), a type of bacteria. Streptococcal pharyngitis is contagious, and the causal bacterium is normally present in the nose and throat. While coughing or sneezing, the bacterium can spread easily from the patient to another person. A major concern with this condition is that the causal bacterium may live in the throat of an individual for many days or even months without expressing any signs of infection.

Mild to severe symptoms are observed, when the afflicted person is under stress or suffers from low immune system. Notable signs of this bacterial infection are sore throat, fever (about 101 °F), and headache. As a result of soreness, throat pain, and difficulty in swallowing food are frequently reported cases. Many a time, strep throat symptoms also include swollen neck glands and pus formation on the side and back of throat. When examined carefully, a white coating is often present in the pharyngeal area.

Strep Throat in Adults: Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of strep throat is done based on the symptoms, physical examination, and medical history of the patient. For confirmation, the physician may conduct a rapid strep test or throat culture. In the former test, material from the back of the throat is taken with the help of a long cotton swab and examined for the streptococcus bacterium. In case of throat culture, material from the throat is cultured in a suitable medium in order to analyze the presence of disease-causing microorganisms.

Therapeutic intervention for streptococcal pharyngitis is necessary as an untreated condition often leads to severe health complications. The treatment for strep throat in adults is mostly done with the administration of antibiotics (in order to get rid of the infection). It is advisable to continue taking antibiotics as per the advice of the physician. Failure to take a complete antibiotic course increases the risk for recurrent infection. As for relieving throat pain, mild pain killers may be recommended by the physician.

After taking correct antibiotics, symptoms may improve, but the patient is still contagious for the next 24 hours. Symptoms may subside gradually within a few days even without the administration of medications. In such a case, the patient remains contagious for several days. The physician may also recommend home remedies for strep throat, such as saline water gargle, drinking plenty of juices, sipping herbal teas, and avoiding spicy food. Proper rest and sleep are equally important to make the immune system work and achieve prompt results.

The best way to prevent strep throat is to maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness. It is advisable to rinse and clean hands before and after food consumption. One should always use tissue papers to cover his/her mouth during sneezing or coughing. Also, the used tissues should be disposed properly. As streptococcal pharyngitis cases are most common in winter and start of spring, extra care should be taken to prevent infection during these months. Always maintain distance from infected patients to avoid disease transmission.

Strep throat is more common in people who have a compromised immune system. However, it is to be noted that all sore throat cases are not streptococcal pharyngitis. If the symptom of sore throat is associated with cough, nasal congestion, vocal change, and red eyes, then there are chances that the infection is caused by virus. So, it is recommended to undergo proper diagnosis and seek advice from a qualified physician before adopting any strep throat treatment approaches.