Strep Cases in Kids Are on the Rise—Here Are Unexpected Symptoms To Look Out For

Kaitlin Vogel
·3 min read
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Plus, why early testing and treatment is so important.

With strep infections surging among children, healthcare officials are concerned. Even more alarming, doctors are reporting that a higher-than-normal number of children are showing symptoms that are different from what we usually associate with strep, which can make infections harder to track.

“These infections are surging now since we are all back at school or work, not wearing masks and eager to have face-to-face contact with others,” says Dr. Sharon Nachman, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

Additionally, she explains, if you have a chronic cough that just won't go away and then you get strep, you'll be more likely to pass your infection to someone else.

Typical vs Atypical Strep Symptoms

Acute strep infections can present with typical, well-known symptoms like fever, sore throat and swollen glands, but a strep infection can also be associated with less common symptoms like vomiting, rash and headache.

Related: CDC Warns Parents About 'Invasive' Illness Affecting Children

“It's important to differentiate a strep throat infection from a common cold,” says Dr. Edgar Navarro Garza, MD, a board-certified pediatrician. “Common cold symptoms are more generalized and, for the most part, mild. Strep throat symptoms are more specific.”

The key symptom of strep is a sore throat without the presence of a runny nose, nasal congestion or cough.

However, many children are currently also showing these symptoms as well, which is atypical.

Other associated symptoms can be fever, body aches, abdominal pain or skin rash, Dr. Garza adds.

Why Symptoms May Look Different This Year

Symptoms may look different (and potentially more severe) this year due to the possibility of concomitant infections—meaning a child was exposed to RSV or the flu as well as strep.

For example, a child or adult may come to the clinic with cold-like symptoms and a bad sore throat, Dr. Garza says, and symptoms may be more severe due to the lack of exposure to strep during the period of 2020-2022 when we were taking higher hygiene measures to decrease exposure to COVID-19.

Related: Sore Throat? Doctors Say This One Thing Can Help You Find Relief in Seconds

Why Testing and Early Treatment Is Important

There is an often-repeated old wives' tale that a parent or doctor can tell just by looking at a sore throat that a child has strep. Several studies have debunked this tale, with only 50 percent of the identification by visualization being correct—and that’s as good as a coin toss, Dr. Nachman explains. The take-home message is that if you suspect you or your child has strep, get tested. And if your result is positive, treat the infection with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.

“Early testing and treatment are more important for the pediatric population due to the risk of children developing conditions like abscesses, sinusitis, otitis media or, more concerning, rheumatic fever or a secondary strep infection that impacts the kidneys," Dr. Garza says. Both of these conditions are autoimmune responses that will require more aggressive treatment in order to decrease the risk of long-term complications.

We are more likely to see cases of strep infections in school-age children because they are more likely to share drinks, food, silverware, etc. Education on proper hand washing and avoiding sharing—especially with someone that is sick—are key to decreasing the risk of transmission, Dr. Garza adds.

Next up: Here's What a COVID Sore Throat Feels Like—and How It's Different From Other Types of Sore Throats

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