Although bacterial sore throat is not a complex disease and is easy to diagnose and treat, neglecting its treatment leads to serious complications in the long term. In this article, learn about the symptoms of bacterial sore throat and methods of treatment and prevention. 

What is strep throat?

Bacterial sore throat is one of the infectious diseases that affects the throat and tonsils. It is caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes. The symptoms of bacterial sore throat are similar to other throat infections in many respects, so you must visit a doctor immediately for diagnosis and treatment. 

What are the symptoms of bacterial sore throat?

In most cases, strep throat begins acutely, i.e. symptoms begin clearly and resolve quickly in 3-7 days without treatment, depending on the patient's immune system's resistance to the infection. 

While bacterial infections in the throat are chronic, if symptoms persist for more than two weeks, medical intervention is required and appropriate treatment is prescribed to eliminate the bacteria. 

The severity of symptoms varies from one patient to another, however 

Symptoms of common bacterial throat infections include:

• الشعور بالتعب العام والارهاق. 
• Anorexia.
• الصداع. 
• High body temperature and sudden fever exceeding 38 degrees Celsius.
• Redness of the throat with the appearance of white spots.
• صعوبة البلع.
• Redness of the tonsils without or with white spots.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
• Muscle and joint pain.

While signs of the condition developing into a chronic bacterial infection of the throat, which requires immediate consultation with a doctor and medical evaluation, include the following:

• The previous symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
• Difficulty swallowing saliva or liquids. 
• Inflammation does not respond to treatment with analgesics.
• Fever that persists and may not respond to reducing medications.
• Difficulty breathing is an emergency symptom.
• Excessive drooling.
• The color of urine turns darker than normal, and this indicates that a bacterial infection has reached the kidneys.

Book your consultation now at قسم الأنف والأذن والحنجرة At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

How do I differentiate between bacterial sore throat and viral sore throat?

When going to see a doctor, he tries to distinguish between the throat infection causing the inflammation, is it a bacterial or viral infection, or are there other causes of inflammation for two main reasons:

• Different types of treatment are required: This is because bacterial sore throat usually requires intervention by prescribing antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria, while viral sore throat does not respond to antibiotics, and the doctor tries to prescribe medications that relieve the symptoms until the viral infection ends on its own.
• Possible complications of the disease: Complications of bacterial infection in the throat are very serious, as failure to treat properly may lead to rheumatic fever or التهاب الكلى.

The most important points to distinguish between viral and bacterial sore throat include the following:

Bacterial sore throat: Its symptoms are sudden and severe, with high fever, white or yellow spots in the throat or on the tonsils with redness and swelling, with swollen lymph nodes in the neck and a feeling of pain in them. 

While viral sore throat is characterized by the following: symptoms appear gradually and are less severe than bacterial infections, a slight increase in body temperature or no fever, swelling and redness of the tonsils but without spots appearing on them. 

Causes of bacterial sore throat

The main cause of bacterial infections of the throat is infection with Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria as a result of the transfer of bacteria from one patient to another person through various methods. The means of transmitting the infection include the following:

• Exposure to droplets from the patient’s sneezes and coughs. 
• Direct contact with the injured person. 
• Touching infected surfaces or personal objects of the patient while placing the hands on the face. 
• Dealing with sick animals. 

Crowded places and schools increase the speed of the spread of infection among individuals, especially children, where bacterial throat infections are common. 

How is strep throat diagnosed? 

Diagnosis of bacterial sore throat begins with the doctor hearing the patient’s complaints about the symptoms, after which the doctor conducts a physical examination of the child or patient, which is as follows:

• Hearing the patient's breathing using a stethoscope. 
• Examine the lymph nodes in the neck by feeling their location and checking for swelling. 
• Throat swab: It is a simple and quick test aimed at detecting the bacteria causing the infection. To prescribe the appropriate antibiotic, the doctor passes a medical swab at the back of the throat and obtains a sample of the existing secretions. 
• Bacteria culture: In the event of failure to respond to the prescribed antibiotic, the doctor resorts to performing this precise analysis to determine the type of bacteria causing the infection. 

Methods of treating bacterial sore throat

The best treatment for bacterial sore throat is to prescribe antibiotics appropriate for the type of bacteria causing the infection. Usually, the doctor recommends taking penicillin or amoxicillin, but for people who suffer from penicillin allergy, other types of antibiotics are prescribed.

The importance of using antibiotics in treating bacterial throat infections using antibiotics lies in their ability to kill bacteria and thus reduce the duration of the disease, heal faster, and prevent the spread of infection. 

However, it should be noted that the use of antibiotics for treatment has a specific protocol. The patient must complete the course of treatment completely as prescribed by the doctor, even if the patient feels better. Stopping treatment with antibiotics before the full dose may lead to a recurrence of the infection in addition to being exposed to the risk of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Painkillers and fever-reducing medications can also be used to reduce the sensation of pain and fever, until the infection ends. 

The doctor advises you to follow some home care tips to speed up recovery and prevent the condition from deteriorating, for example:

• Drink warm liquids to relieve pain and soothe sore throat. 
• Gargle with warm water and salt to relieve inflammation and reduce the concentration of bacteria in the throat. 
• Take adequate rest to help the body fight infection. 
• Eat healthy foods and avoid spicy and sour foods to avoid throat irritation. 

الأسئلة الشائعة:

What are the possible complications resulting from neglecting treatment of strep throat?

Bacterial throat infections are not considered complex diseases that are difficult to treat, and the treatment period does not take a long period of time. However, in a few cases, neglecting to treat the infection can lead to the development of serious complications for the patient. These complications include the following: 

• Rheumatic fever is one of the most serious complications of strep throat, as it affects the heart, nerves, and joints.
• Bacterial sinusitis.
• Spread of infection in the blood or other parts of the body. 
• Abscesses form around the tonsils.
• Acute bacterial infection of the kidneys. 
• Scarlet fever results from the spread of infection in the skin and the appearance of spots or rashes.
• Guttate psoriasis, a common type of psoriasis in children. 

Is strep throat contagious and how can it be avoided?

Yes, bacterial or viral sore throat infections are one of the infectious diseases that must be followed by all means of prevention to avoid transmission or infection. The methods to avoid transmission are similar to the following: 

• Cover the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing with a tissue or elbow.
• Do not share personal utensils with the patient, such as cups and spoons.
• Stay away from infected people and avoid direct contact with those with respiratory infections.

What are the ways to prevent bacterial infection of the throat? 

It may be difficult to completely prevent infection, but certainly, following some good daily habits will help reduce the chances of getting a strep throat, for example:

• Taking care of personal hygiene, such as washing hands regularly before and after eating, and after using the bathroom, and avoiding touching the face, eyes, and mouth with unclean hands.
• Follow infection prevention methods, use tissues or your elbow to prevent the spread of sneezing and coughing droplets, and do not share or use the patient’s private tools, such as cups and spoons, with others.
• Work to strengthen the immune system by following a healthy and balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, organizing sleep and wake-up times, and exercising regularly.

In conclusion, bacterial sore throat is a common disease among children and those with weak immune systems. It is a disease that is easy to treat by following a simple protocol, but neglecting it can lead to serious complications for the child. 

Doctors at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital advise us to follow the means of prevention and transmission of infection. Our medical team also provides personal consultations to accurately evaluate cases, which helps in determining the best appropriate solutions to achieve the desired results. 

You can contact us on our numbers listed on the website for more details, reservations and inquiries. 

Sources and references

WebMD – Strep Throat Symptoms

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – About Strep Throat

NHS – Strep Throat