Can Adults Get Strep Throat? Yes, Here’s When to Get Testing and Treatment

Strep throat is the most common type of bacterial throat infection. As a kid, you probably remember getting checked for strep throat when you came down with a sore throat. But now that you're an adult, do you really need to go to a doctor's office every time you have a sore throat?

As you get older, you're more likely to have a sore throat from a virus than from strep. But adults can get strep throat. And this is one of the few times that antibiotics are needed to cure a sore throat. Strep throat often goes away by itself in 3 to 5 days. But, without antibiotic treatment, strep throat can lead to more serious infections and health problems, like rheumatic fever and long-term heart problems. So, antibiotic treatment helps you feel better faster and keeps you from developing more serious health complications.

Here's how you can tell when you need a test for strep throat.

Do adults get strep throat?

Yes, adults can get strep throat. But it isn't common. Studies show only 5% to 15% of adults who have a sore throat end up having strep throat. But certain adults are much more likely to come down with strep throat. These people have a higher chance of testing positive for strep throat when they have a sore throat.

Adults at higher risk for strep include:

• Young adults who attend college and/or live in dormitories

• Adults who live or work with children between the ages of 5 and 15

• Older adults who live in group settings, like long-term care or residential facilities

If you fall into one of these groups and you develop symptoms of strep throat (listed below), you should get tested. Your symptoms might be due to strep-throat infection.

What are strep throat symptoms in adults?

The symptoms of strep throat in adults include:

• Sore throat

• Pain with swallowing

• Red spots on the back of the throat

• White discharge or pus at the back of the throat

• Fever

• Swollen or tender neck lymph nodes

• A red, bumpy rash

Symptoms usually start suddenly. People don't typically experience a cough, runny nose, or watery eyes when they have strep throat.

When should adults see a healthcare professional if they think they have strep throat?

If you're experiencing symptoms that could be strep, here's when you should see a healthcare professional:

• If you develop a sore throat after being around someone who was recently diagnosed with or treated for strep throat

• If you have a sore throat and you're part of a group that's at higher risk for developing strep throat (listed above)

• If you're not in one of these groups, see a healthcare professional if you develop a very severe sore throat or a fever along with a sore throat. These symptoms may be due to strep throat or a more serious viral infection, like COVID-19 or the flu (influenza).

A healthcare professional will do a rapid strep test to see if you have strep throat. To do this test, they'll swab the back of your throat and then test the sample in their office. You'll know the results in a few minutes.

How do you treat strep throat in adults?

Antibiotics treat strep throat. In fact, this is one of the few times you actually need to take antibiotics for a sore throat.

The most commonly used antibiotics are:

• Amoxicillin: 1,000 mg by mouth once a day (or 500 mg by mouth twice a day) for 10 days

• Penicillin: 500 mg by mouth twice a day for 10 days

There's also a form of penicillin that comes as a one-time injection. If you think you won't be able to finish all 10 days of antibiotics, talk with your healthcare team about the injection form of penicillin.

If you have a penicillin allergy, you'll need to take a different antibiotic. Options include:

• Cephalexin (Keflex): 500 mg by mouth twice a day for 10 days

• Clindamycin (Cleocin): 300 mg by mouth 3 times a day for 10 days

• Azithromycin (Zithromax): 500 mg by mouth once a day for 5 days

• Clarithromycin (Biaxin): 250 mg by mouth twice a day for 10 days

While antibiotics will keep you safe from strep complications, they won't help you feel better that much faster. Studies show that antibiotics only shorten illness by about 1 day. But there are some over-the-counter and home remedies to help relieve your symptoms.

How is strep throat transmitted?

Strep throat is caused by a type of bacteria called group A Streptococcus. This type of bacteria spreads from person to person through direct contact with saliva and respiratory droplets. People release the bacteria when they cough, sneeze, or blow their nose. So, you can pick up the bacteria that causes strep throat if you come into contact with these respiratory droplets.

You can also come in contact with group A Streptococcus by sharing toothbrushes, utensils, cups, and anything else that touches your mouth. This bacteria doesn't live on surfaces very long. So, it's unlikely that you'll come into contact with the bacteria from touching objects or surfaces.

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