Health Risks of Untreated Strep Throat

Strep throat is caused due to infection by the bacteria called streptococcus. This bacteria causes infection of the oral pharynx and the tonsils. Many times the body recovers from this infectious disease on its own and many times home remedies for strep throat help to cure this condition faster. However, if the strep throat is left untreated for a while, many complications can occur. A person might suffer from severe symptoms if the strep throat is left untreated.

• One might experience mild to high fever
• Difficulty in swallowing is a common symptom
• One might develop a rash due to untreated step throat
• Swelling of the lymph nodes present in the neck
• Nausea and uneasiness
• Loss of appetite
• Reddish throat along with white patches

These common symptoms can be observed when one is suffering from strep throat. However, when it goes untreated the symptoms become worse like high fever, extreme difficulty in swallowing, difficulty in breathing, increased swelling in the throat and hoarseness of voice.

A patient might also experience an increased scratchy feeling and uneasiness due to an untreated strep throat.

Fever: If strep throat is untreated, it can develop into rheumatic or scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is caused due to the bacteria, streptococcus and is very easily treatable. Rheumatic fever on the other hand, is also caused due to streptococcus bacteria, can develop into serious health issues like heart complications and joint pain.

Tonsillitis: Infection due to the bacteria can lead to inflammation of tonsils. In tonsillitis one might experience symptoms like yellowing or whitening of the tonsils and muscle pain.

Lung Infection: Untreated or not completely treated strep throat can lead to pneumonia. In this condition inflammation of lung tissue and congestion occurs.

Sinusitis: Due to bacterial infection of the body, the mucus can get stored in the sinus sacs. This might lead to blocking of the sinus sacs which leads to health problems related to sinusitis.

Fluid Retention: The lymph system helps to remove fluids from the body and strep throat condition affects the lymph nodes. So, there is a possibility that the fluids can get retained in the body tissues, and cause swelling in the body which is known as 'edema'. The water retention condition is more visible in hands and legs, but can occur in other body parts too.

Glomerulonephritis: Antibiotics reduce the infection, strep throat and the duration period of the symptoms of strep throat. However, if these antibodies against the bacteria become lodged inside the kidney, acute glomerulonephritis may occur.

Otitis: Infection of the throat can spread to the ears and cause ear infections like the condition of inflammation of the ears, otitis.

Infection of Other Body Parts: If strep throat is not treated, the infection by streptococcus bacteria can spread to other body parts like tonsils and tissues around the throat, where the bacteria can cause pus pockets. One can also experience guttate psoriasis, a condition where small, red scaly spots appear on the skin.

Lowering of Immunity: As the bacteria of the step throat can affect other body parts, the immune system of the body can be weakened.

Contagiousness: Strep throat in its early stage is contagious, but if it goes untreated, the chances of it spreading and causing the infection in others, increases.

Meningitis: The infection can spread to spinal canal and to the lining of the brain if left untreated.

TSS: TSS or Toxic Shock Syndrome is a rare but a serious condition which a person can experience, if the strep throat is left untreated or partially treated.

If you are showing symptoms of a strep throat, there is a risk that the infection may develop into another major health complication. So, replace treatment with the help of home remedies and seek medical treatment immediately.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.