Poststreptococcal Syndrome: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

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Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

If you’ve ever had strep throat, you know it’s no fun at all. Sometimes, the bacteria that causes strep throat can also cause an inflammatory response known as poststreptococcal syndrome. Luckily, you can treat and manage your symptoms while your body heals and recovers.

Question 1

Question 1 of 8:
Background

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Inflammatory syndromes happen after a streptococcus infection. An infection caused by a group-A streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat) can cause different inflammatory syndromes in your body after it clears up. These syndromes usually occur a week or so after the strep infection.^{[1]
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- Common inflammatory syndromes include rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, poststreptococcal reactive arthritis, and poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation).
- Group-A streptococcus bacteria can also cause other infections such as cellulitis, impetigo, necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock, but these are different than syndromes that are triggered by an infection.^{[2]
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Children are the most susceptible to poststreptococcal syndromes. While anybody can be affected, post-strep diseases commonly affect younger people. Children and teenagers are much more likely to develop a poststreptococcal syndrome than adults.^{[3]
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- Children younger than 3 usually aren’t affected by group-A streptococcus bacteria.

Question 2

Question 2 of 8:
Causes

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Strep bacteria triggers an inflammatory response. Poststreptococcal syndromes aren’t really caused by the strep bacteria itself. It’s actually your immune system’s response to the infection. The strep bacteria triggers an inflammatory response that leads to a syndrome.^{[4]
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Question 3

Question 3 of 8:
Symptoms

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Rheumatic fever can cause fever, joint pain, and heart problems. Rheumatic fever is a generalized inflammatory response that develops after a strep throat infection. Its symptoms include fever, tender joints, chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rapid heartbeat. You can also have fatigue, uncontrollable body movements (known as “chorea”), rash, and lumps beneath your skin near your joints.^{[5]
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2
Scarlet fever is characterized by a prominent rash. Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, develops in some people who have strep throat. Along with a sore throat and high fever, it also causes a bright red rash that covers most of your body.^{[6]
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- Scarlet fever is most common in children aged 5-15 years old.
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Reactive arthritis can cause joint pain, swelling, and fever. Symptoms of post-strep reactive arthritis are similar to rheumatic fever and can include joint pain and swelling. But it doesn’t cause any heart-related symptoms.^{[7]
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Glomerulonephritis can cause dark urine and swelling in your feet or face. Post-strep glomerulonephritis causes your kidneys to become inflamed. It can cause changes in the color of your urine and swelling in your feet and face, known as edema.^{[8]
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Question 4

Question 4 of 8:
Diagnosis

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See your doctor for a throat swab to look for strep bacteria. If you have throat pain, painful swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, fever, headache, and body aches, you could have strep throat.^{[9]
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- A throat swab can also confirm a diagnosis of rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, and poststreptococcal reactive arthritis. If you have the symptoms of these syndromes, a swab will identify whether or not strep bacteria is the cause.
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Get a urine test to check for poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN). PSGN is a kidney disease caused by a strep infection. Provide a urine sample to your doctor so they can test and analyze it to look for protein and blood that will help them confirm a diagnosis. Your doctor may also test your blood to see how well your kidneys are functioning and swab your throat to check for strep bacteria.^{[11]
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Question 5

Question 5 of 8:
Treatment

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Take antibiotics as prescribed to knock out a strep infection. If you do have strep bacteria, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. It’s important that you take them as prescribed until they’re finished. Don’t miss any doses and don’t stop taking them if you start feeling better.^{[12]
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- Antibiotics are also used to treat scarlet fever.^{[13]
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2
Use NSAIDs or aspirin to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by poststreptococcal syndromes such as scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, and poststreptococcal reactive arthritis. They can also help reduce your fever while your body fights off the inflammation.^{[14]
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- You can buy NSAIDs over-the-counter at your local pharmacy.
- Your doctor may prescribe stronger NSAIDs if you need them.
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Take diuretics and blood pressure medication to treat PSGN. Limit your salt and water intake to help decrease swelling by taking diuretics, which will increase the flow of your urine. Additionally, because high blood pressure is a symptom of PSGN, taking blood pressure medication can also help treat the syndrome.^{[15]
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Question 6

Question 6 of 8:
Prognosis

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Most people recover, but it needs to be treated. The good news is that you will eventually recover from your post-strep syndrome, and most treatments are aimed at making you feel better while your body deals with the inflammation. However, if you don’t treat the original infection, or you don’t take care of your symptoms, it could lead to complications such as heart problems and high blood pressure.^{[16]
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- Children with rheumatic fever are often treated with low-dose antibiotics until adulthood to prevent reinfection and possible heart damage.^{[17]
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- Kidney problems caused by PSGN should clear up within 3-6 months, but it can sometimes take up to 3 years for your kidney function to return to normal.^{[18]
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Question 7

Question 7 of 8:
Prevention

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Wash your hands and practice good hygiene to avoid getting strep. Group-A streptococcus bacteria is super contagious and easy to spread. Practicing basic hygiene and washing your hands often, especially if you’re in contact with someone who has strep-throat, can help reduce your chances of getting an infection that could lead to poststreptococcal syndrome.^{[19]
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2
Treat your strep throat immediately to prevent poststreptococcal syndromes. If you have strep throat, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic such as penicillin or amoxicillin, which will usually knock out the infection. Take the antibiotics as prescribed to take care of the infection and reduce your chances of developing an inflammatory syndrome.^{[20]
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Question 8

Question 8 of 8:
Additional Info

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Poststreptococcal syndrome is not contagious. While strep throat is a highly contagious bacterial infection, poststreptococcal syndrome is an inflammatory response caused by your own body’s immune system. That means it can’t be transmitted from one person to another.^{[21]
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Warnings

Strep throat can lead to serious medical issues if it isn’t properly treated. See your doctor if you show any signs of strep throat.

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