Sepsis and Strep Throat

Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococci. It’s most common in children and teens, but it can affect adults too. The infection is spread through droplets in the air, so if someone with the bacteria sneezes or coughs near you, you could become ill by breathing in the droplets. It can also be spread if the infected person has the bacteria on their hands, they touch something (such as a door knob), you touch the object, and then bring your hand to your nose or mouth.

Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency that happens when your body’s response to an infection damages vital organs and, often, causes death. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Suggested Citation:
Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis and Strep Throat. 2024. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/strep-throat/

Updated June 18, 2024.

 

More About Strep Throat

Symptoms

Strep throat is quite painful for most people. It doesn’t usually feel like a “regular” sore throat. Signs and symptoms of strep throat may include:

  • Painful swallowing
  • Tender, swollen glands (lymph nodes) on the sides of your neck
  • Red and enlarged tonsils
  • Red and white patches in the throat
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Rash, may resemble sandpaper
  • Body aches
Risk Factors

Anyone can get strep throat but it is most common in teens, particularly when they are together in large groups, such as during the school year.

Complications

Aside from the infection possibly triggering sepsis, untreated strep throat could lead to:

  • Scarlet fever
  • Post-streptococcal glomurolenephritis,  inflammation in the kidney
  • Rheumatic fever
Diagnosis and Treatment

Strep throat can often be diagnosed in the doctor’s office or clinic with a rapid antigen test, using a swab sample from your throat. The test may be called a quick strep test. The test can be negative, indicating you don’t have strep throat, but your doctor might still suspect you do. If this is the case, your doctor will send another swab for a more detailed analysis in a lab.

Treatment is with antibiotics. It’s important to remember that you still are contagious until about 24 hours after you started the medication. Your doctor may also recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help reduce the swelling and pain.

Related Resources

Information Guide

Strep Throat

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Brandi Baltes

I went into a doc in the box in late November 2023 for strep throat. (Sepsis and Strep Throat) Within a week, I was being transported from that same doc in the box for extremely low blood pressure. Next thing I remember is waking up from a coma. I had COVID, septic shock, kidney failure, diaphragmatic spasms, and pneumonia. (Sepsis and Covid-19, Sepsis and Pneumonia) I was in the ICU for 35 days1 2 weeks in a coma. The nightmares I had while in my coma still haunt me. I’m terrified of anything that seems “off” with my health. Read Full Story

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Danielle Amato

On January 31st, 2023 at 28, after suffering from an extremely sore throat, I went into septic shock and had toxic shock as well. All from strep throat, which I had never even had as a kid! (Sepsis and Strep Throat) There’s arriving at the hospital and then about a 3 week gap in memory, replaced by bizarre dreams. My kidneys and heart both failed and I narrowly escaped needing ECMO. I was in the hospital and rehab for about four months. I had my right arm below the elbow amputated as well as my fingers and toes. Three months ... Read Full Story

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Brooke Sheffield

On 1/21/21, I woke up an hour before work, sweating with my heart racing. My throat was raw and it hurt to swallow. I called my job asking to let me stay home, but they guilt tripped me into coming in. So I did. After 2 hours I begged my manager to let me go and so I was sent home. I get home and my heart is still racing and I feel super lightheaded. I then develop cough along with the raw throat. I also suffer from panic disorder and assumed it was a panic attack. I told myself ... Read Full Story

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Teresa Eoff

On Friday July 7, 2017, I woke up with a sore throat. I gargled with salt water and went to work. I was fine working during the morning. I decided to walk to Starbucks to get a Medicine Ball tea to calm my sore throat which was burning pretty bad. I came back to my desk 10 minutes later and after a few sips of my tea began vomiting profusely for a continuous hour. I laid on the floor and told my coworkers “I felt like I was dying.” I called my husband and asked him to come to my ... Read Full Story

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Jason Milam

On January 27, 2019, I went into cardiac arrest due to septic shock. (Sepsis and Septic Shock) I was life flighted to a regional hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. I was on life support for three weeks. This was due to strep throat that settled in my lungs, causing streptococcal pneumonia. (Sepsis and Strep Throat, Sepsis and Pneumonia) Sepsis caused my thyroid and my gallbladder to die. I have an underlying autoimmune disease called Addison’s disease. (Sepsis and Impaired Immune System) Because of that, the medication I take suppressed the symptoms of strep throat, so I never knew I had it. ... Read Full Story

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Strep Throat