Chances are that you or your child has had Strep throat at one point or another but did you know that if left untreated, it can cause complications? Though rare, complications of Strep throat can be very serious.
Streptococcus, or Strep, is a bacteria that can infect the throat as well as other areas of the body. Many patients don’t realize that Strep throat is actually tonsillitis or pharyngitis that happens to be caused by Strep bacteria.
Thankfully, strep can be easily diagnosed with a rapid strep test or throat culture in your doctor’s office. It’s important to note that it cannot be diagnosed by a simple physical exam. A viral sore throat can often feel and look worse than a strep throat and both are treated differently. For viral sore throats, antibiotics are not effective against viruses whereas, with bacterial infections, antibiotics are typically the first line of treatment.
Since strep throat is caused by bacteria, antibiotics will be prescribed. It’s important that you or your child are evaluated and tested by your doctor or urgent care. Untreated, strep throat can cause serious complications including:
- Tonsil abscess is a relatively common complication.
- Rheumatic Fever can cause heart valve damage and joint damage.
- Kidney Disease may also occur as a complication of untreated strep throat.
Diagnosis and treatment are usually straight forward and very simple. So if you develop a sore throat without obvious cold symptoms of runny nose and cough, a strep test is a good idea. The sore throat will usually be much better in a day or so after antibiotics are started.
–At Advanced Specialty Care, we offer same day, urgent care appointments in Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk, Ridgefield and Southbury, CT for situations like just like this. From pediatric to adult ENT and audiology, our doctors are able to diagnose and treat everything from strep throat and ear infections to thyroid disease and swallowing disorders.
If you have questions about or would like to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient Fairfield or Litchfield County office locations in Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Southbury, please call our office at (203) 830-4700 or simply click here to fill out an appointment request form
Advanced Specialty Care is a multi-specialty private practice caring for patients in Fairfield County, CT for over 30 years. We are committed to the well-being of our patients. In addition to Ear, Nose & Throat, we have expertise in Head and Neck Surgery, Allergy & Asthma, Audiology, Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, Dermatology and Skin Care and Hand Surgery. Our six, convenient Connecticut offices include, Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Southbury, and Stamford.
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