How Long Does Strep Throat Last?
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist and project plan...
Key Takeaways
- Strep throat, caused by group A Streptococcus, typically produces a sudden sore throat, painful swallowing, red swollen tonsils with white spots, fever and body aches; it most often affects children ages 5 to 15 but can occur at any age.
- Symptoms usually persist for seven to 10 days, but a course of antibiotics—most commonly penicillin or amoxicillin—can relieve discomfort within 24 hours and render the patient non‑contagious about a day after treatment begins.
- Patients should finish the prescribed antibiotic regimen, stay hydrated, rest, use over‑the‑counter pain relievers as needed, and practice frequent hand‑washing and cough etiquette to prevent spread and avoid complications such as ear infections, sinusitis, kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever.
A sore throat, difficulty swallowing and tell-tale white spots on your tonsils are the key signs of strep throat.
This highly contagious infection can last seven to 10 days, but you may get back to your normal activities sooner with prompt treatment. Learn more about the symptoms of strep throat, what the timeline can look like and treatment.
What is strep throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes a sore throat. The cause is a bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococcus, according to the Mayo Clinic. The bacteria are contagious and spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or even touches a surface.
Symptoms of a strep throat can come on quickly after a few days of incubation. You may experience:
- A sore throat
- Painful swallowing
- Red and swollen tonsils, often with white spots
- Fever
- Headache
- Body aches
- Nausea or vomiting, most common in young children
Strep throat most commonly affects children age 5 to 15, but people of all ages can get this infection, per the Cleveland Clinic.
If you get a sore throat, you may consider whether strep is the first cause, but strep only causes up to 15% of sore throats in adults and up to 35% of sore throats in children. For a severe sore throat and other symptoms, talk to your primary care provider (PCP).
How long does strep throat last?
Once you start experiencing strep throat symptoms, they may continue for seven to 10 days. But because strep throat is a bacterial infection, getting treatment early is key. Antibiotics, particularly penicillin and amoxicillin, are the primary treatment; there are others available for those with allergies to these types of antibiotics. Without antibiotics, strep throat could spread to other areas of your body and cause complications such as ear or sinus infections, abscesses, kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. These conditions can become serious, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Your PCP can perform an exam and a swab test, provide a diagnosis and prescribe a medication. Once you start taking an antibiotic, you may start to feel better in as little as 24 hours as long as you don’t have a fever, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It’s important to take the full dose of antibiotics, even if you start feeling better because the bacteria may still be present when symptoms ease. You are contagious after contracting strep throat for a few days before symptoms show and for about a day or two after you start the antibiotic.
In addition to an antibiotic, here are a few things you can do to help relieve a sore throat:
- Get plenty of rest and sleep
- Take over-the-counter pain relivers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Stay hydrated with water and warm liquids
- Eat soft foods such as applesauce or mashed potatoes
- Gargle warm saltwater
- Use lozenges or cough drops
- Run a humidifier
To prevent a strep throat and other illnesses, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, cover coughs and sneezes and stay home if you are sick.
Photo credit: Getty Images
