Untreated strep throat can lead to recurring sore throats, tonsillitis, rheumatic fever, sinus and ear infections, scarlet fever, and kidney disease. Prompt treatment is important to avoid dangerous complications.
When a person has a sore throat, they have a bacterial infection usually caused by group A strep. This throat infection usually causes an intense sore throat, low-grade fever, sore throat, and general malaise. It’s important to get prompt treatment for this disease, because untreated sore throats can have dangerous repercussions. To begin with, a person who fails to seek treatment may have recurring sore throats, tonsillitis, and rheumatic fever. Other dangers may include sinus and ear infections, scarlet fever, and a kidney disease known as glomerulonephritis.
One danger of untreated sore throat is a rapid recurrence of the disease. If nothing is done to treat the bacteria, they could remain in the throat and cause a quick re-infection. Tonsillitis is another possible danger of this disease. When a person has tonsillitis, their tonsils become severely inflamed or swollen. Infections, including viral and bacterial infections such as strep throat, are the most common causes of tonsillitis.
Rheumatic fever is one of the more serious dangers of untreated sore throats. In fact, this inflammatory disease is usually caused by a sore throat that has never been treated or treated inadequately. Rheumatic fever is especially dangerous because complications can be widespread. This disease can potentially damage the brain, muscles and heart and can lead to skin irritations such as rashes and lumps. It can also cause joint problems.
Sometimes, untreated strep can cause the infection to spread to nearby areas and lead to other infections. Commonly, if left untreated, a sore throat can lead to infections in the sinuses and ears. Infection that occurs in the sinus cavities is medically classified as sinusitis. Additionally, it can also lead to otitis media, which is the medical term for an ear infection. In general, sore throat may be symptomatic in a person with one of these infections occurring as a secondary disease.
Scarlet fever can be another serious danger of failing to treat strep properly. Like strep throat, scarlet fever is mainly caused by the same bacteria as strep throat. Individuals with scarlet fever may have a constant high fever, and the person usually has a rash all over their body. This was once a very important disease, however, it now occurs more commonly as a complication of another disease such as strep throat.
Another danger of untreated strep throat is glomerulonephritis. When this disease occurs due to strep throat, it is usually referred to as post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Generally, glomerulonephritis is a disease that distinctly affects the kidneys. Specifically, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis occurs when the bacterial infection that causes a sore throat enters the glomeruli or blood vessels in the kidneys and initiates inflammation. This ailment can significantly damage the kidneys and an individual may experience bloating, various urinary problems, and even joint pain due to this complication of a sore throat.
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