The most common cause of the conditions related to a sore throat is the contamination with the streptococcus bacteria group A affecting about 5-15% of the adults with pharingitis and 15-30 of the children. Another similar condition evolving with throat pain and inflammation is the viral pharingitis that seems to be less difficult and sometimes cures by itself in a few days.



Streptococcus infections can lead to dangerous complications if not detected and treated immediately as they occur. A rheumatic fever can complicate the streptococcus pharingitis also touching the cardiac tissue. Glomerulonephritis is a bacterial condition of the kidneys caused as well by the streptococcus infection.

Today, most of the streptococcus infections can be easily identified and cured by relatively easy methods. Though, such contagious conditions involving streptococci are still very frequent among the population of all ages and ethnics. The prescription of the appropriate antibiotic medication can only be done after a series of testing and cultures are made from a secretion harvested from the sore throat. Group A streptococci are most commonly easy to detect and usually cure without any complications if properly treated.

The quick streptococcus test is ready in about 10-20 minutes after the harvest and if positive, no further testing is required. If the rapid test result is negative, a bacterial culture can be tried which takes about several days to maturate. Cultures are always more accurate but take far more time to give confirmed results, than rapid tests.

Rapid streptococcus tests are usually recommended by physicians when patients accuse fever and sore throat. These two signs can stand for an upper respiratory-tract infection and can often be caused by streptococcus. Other associated symptoms of streptococcus infection are headaches, inflamed, irritated tonsils with white or yellow spots, swollen and tender neck, general weakness and lack of appetite.

Rapid tests and bacterial cultures are meant to determine the presence or absence of the group A streptococcus. An earlier ant biotherapy or gargling with different products may sabotage the test results and therefore, the harvesting is always made in the morning, before eating, drinking or brushing the teeth.

Streptococcus infections are contagious and can be spread through respiratory secretions. Some patients, especially 10-11 years old children, are healthy carriers and can transmit the bacteria to others without showing any symptoms. Sore throat caused by streptococcus has similar symptoms with the flu; the two very distinct conditions are differentiated by specific tests for streptococcus or Influenza virus. If both testing appear negative, further blood analysis is done until the cause of the symptoms is detected.

Patients without clinical manifestations are more dangerous for others and for themselves as they can easily transmit the bacteria and can develop complications because of the lack of treatment.