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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough strep throat itself isn't dangerous, it may lead to serious complications — sometimes even with treatment.
Spread of infection
Strep bacteria may spread, causing infection in your:
- Tonsils
- Sinuses
- Skin
- Blood
- Middle ear
Inflammatory reactions
Strep infection may lead to other inflammatory illnesses, including:
- Scarlet fever, an illness characterized by a rash
- Inflammation of the kidney (poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis)
- Rheumatic fever, a serious condition that can affect the heart, joints, nervous system and skin
The risk of developing severe complications from strep throat is low in the United States.
- Strep throat. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/strepThroat/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed April 22, 2010.
- Giannoni CM. Streptococcal pharyngitis. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2010. 61st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00003-X--sc0070&uniq=195595841&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2. Accessed April 22, 2010.
- Fort GG. Pharyngitis/tonsillitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/197105845-8/0/2088/496.html?tocnode=58133576&fromURL=496.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00025-3--sc0140_10202. Accessed April 22, 2010.
- Choby B. Diagnosis and treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. American Family Physician. 2009;79:383.
- Hayden GF, et al. Acute pharyngitis. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/197105845-9/0/1608/897.html?tocnode=54482109&fromURL=897.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50380-7_7372. Accessed April 22, 2010.
- Fleisher GR. Evaluation of sore throat in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 22, 2010.
- Fort GG. Rheumatic fever. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/195595841-8/984459939/2088/572.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00027-7--s2315_11750. Accessed April 22, 2010.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 30, 2010.
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