Streptococcal Pharyngitis - Prognosis

Prognosis

The symptoms of strep throat usually improve irrespective of treatment within three to five days. Treatment with antibiotics reduces the risk of complications and transmission; children may return to school 24 hours after antibiotics are administered. The risk of complications in adults is low. In children acute rheumatic fever is rare in most of the developed world. It is however the leading cause of acquired heart disease in India, sub-Saharan Africa and some parts of Australia.

Complications arising from streptococcal throat infections include:

  • Acute rheumatic fever
  • Scarlet fever
  • Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • PANDAS syndrome
  • Peritonsillar abscess
  • Cervical lymphadenitis
  • Mastoiditis

The economic cost of the disease in the United States in children is ~$350 million.

Read more about this topic:  Streptococcal Pharyngitis