Strep Throat (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Strep Throat Overview
- Strep Throat Causes
- Strep Throat Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Strep Throat Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Pictures of The Anatomy of a Sore Throat - Slideshow

- Pictures of Natural Cold & Flu Remedies - Slideshow

- Pictures of The Common Cold - Slideshow

- Viewer Comments: Strep Throat - Length Symptoms Lasted
Outlook
The symptoms of strep throat usually improve even without treatment in five days, but you are contagious for several weeks. Lack of treatment or incomplete treatment of strep throat can lead to various complications. Some of them may pose serious health risks.
- Infectious complications
- The active infection may occur in the throat, skin, and in blood.
- Skin and soft tissues may become infected, resulting in redness, pain, and swelling. Skin and deep tissues may also become necrotic (rare).
- Scarlet fever is caused by toxins released by the bacteria.
- Rarely, some strains may cause a severe illness in which blood pressure is reduced and lung injury and kidney failure may occur (toxic shock syndrome).
- The active infection may occur in the throat, skin, and in blood.
- Noninfective complications
- During the infection, antibodies (disease-fighting chemicals) are produced.
Rare complication can result after the organism is cleared, when these
antibodies cause disease in body organs.
- Rheumatic fever is a heart disease in which the inflammation of
heart
muscle and scarring of heart valves can occur.
- Glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease in which the injury may lead to kidney failure.
- During the infection, antibodies (disease-fighting chemicals) are produced.
Rare complication can result after the organism is cleared, when these
antibodies cause disease in body organs.
Next: Multimedia »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Strep Throat - Length Symptoms Lasted
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