Strep Throat in Children
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can cause a painful sore throat, fever and difficulty swallowing in children. Because strep symptoms can look similar to viral sore throats and other common childhood illnesses, testing can help determine what’s making your child sick.
Care for Kids provides pediatric evaluation, rapid and molecular strep testing, and treatment when appropriate.
Strep Throat Symptoms in Kids
Strep throat can develop quickly and may cause symptoms including:
- Sore or painful throat
- Pain when swallowing
- Fever
- Red or swollen tonsils
- White patches or streaks on the tonsils
- Swollen or tender lymph nodes in the neck
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Decreased appetite
Some children with strep can also develop a red rash known as scarlet fever.
Symptoms such as coughing, runny nose and congestion are more commonly associated with viral respiratory infections than strep throat. However, symptoms alone aren’t always enough to determine what’s causing your child’s sore throat.
How Can Strep Throat Be Prevented?
Strep throat is contagious, but good hygiene can help reduce its spread. Encourage your family to:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Avoid sharing cups, utensils, food and drinks
- Wash dishes and utensils after someone who is sick uses them
- Avoid close contact with someone who has strep when possible
- Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed
If your child is diagnosed with strep, your provider can also advise you on when it’s appropriate for them to return to school or daycare.
Strep Testing for Children
If your child’s symptoms suggest strep throat, testing can determine whether Group A Streptococcus bacteria are present.
Care for Kids offers rapid and molecular strep testing for children when clinically appropriate. Your pediatric provider will evaluate your child’s symptoms and determine the appropriate testing and next steps.
Testing is particularly helpful because a sore throat can have many different causes, and antibiotics are only appropriate for bacterial infections such as strep.
How Is Strep Throat Treated?
Because strep throat is caused by bacteria, a confirmed strep infection is typically treated with a prescription antibiotic. Antibiotic treatment can help your child feel better faster, reduce the spread of strep to others and lower the risk of certain complications. It’s important for your child to take antibiotics exactly as prescribed and complete the recommended treatment, even if they begin feeling better.
Other ways to help your child feel more comfortable while recovering may include:
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Getting plenty of rest
- Eating soft or soothing foods
- Using age-appropriate medications for fever or throat discomfort when appropriate
Antibiotics should not be used for a sore throat caused by a virus. Testing helps your provider determine whether Group A Strep is responsible for your child’s symptoms and whether antibiotics are appropriate.
How Is Strep Throat Treated?
When a child tests positive for strep throat, treatment typically includes an antibiotic prescribed by a healthcare provider. Completing the full course of medication as directed is important, even if your child starts feeling better.
Your provider may also recommend ways to keep your child comfortable while recovering, such as staying hydrated, getting plenty of rest and using age-appropriate over-the-counter medications when appropriate.
When Should My Child See a Doctor for a Sore Throat?
Consider having your child evaluated if they have:
- A significant or persistent sore throat
- Pain or difficulty when swallowing
- Fever along with a sore throat
- Swollen or painful lymph nodes
- White patches on the tonsils
- A rash along with a sore throat
- Known exposure to someone with strep throat
- Symptoms that are worsening instead of improving
🚨 Seek emergency medical attention if your child has severe difficulty breathing, cannot swallow liquids or saliva, shows signs of severe dehydration or has other life-threatening symptoms.
Urgent Care or Primary Care for Strep?
Urgent Care is a convenient choice when your child suddenly develops a sore throat, fever or other symptoms of strep. Care for Kids can evaluate your child, perform strep testing when appropriate and provide treatment if they test positive.
Primary Care can help with follow-up concerns, recurring sore throats and your child’s ongoing healthcare needs.
Having urgent and primary care available through Care for Kids also helps keep your child’s care and medical history connected.
Pediatric Strep Throat Care Near You
A sore throat can make for a miserable day, but getting answers doesn’t have to be difficult. Care for Kids can evaluate your child’s symptoms, test for strep when appropriate and recommend the right treatment to help them feel better.
👉 Find your nearest Care for Kids clinic and book pediatric urgent or primary care at urgentcarekids.com/locations.
