Can Adults Get Strep Throat?

When most people think of strep throat, they picture a kid home from school with a fever. It’s true that strep is common in children, but strep throat in adults happens, too. In fact, many adults catch it from close contact with someone who already has it, whether that’s a child, a partner, a roommate, or a coworker.

Because strep is so often thought of as a kid’s illness, adults sometimes brush off the symptoms. Knowing what to look for can help you get the right care sooner.

Adult Strep Throat Symptoms to Watch For

Strep can look a little different for everyone. In adults, symptoms may include:

A sore throat that comes on suddenly
Pain when swallowing
Fatigue/tiredness
Fever
Swollen glands
Red or swollen tonsils
White patches or streaks on the tonsils
Headache
Body aches

Not every adult with strep will have all of these. Some people have only a few, which is part of why it’s easy to miss.

How Adult Strep Can Be Confused With Other Illnesses

When you’re juggling work and everything else on your plate, it’s easy to assume a sore throat is just a cold, allergies, flu, COVID, or irritation from talking too much. Many of these share the same symptoms as strep, and it’s hard to tell them apart on your own.

That overlap is exactly why testing can help when strep is a concern.

Why Testing Matters for Adults

Testing can help determine whether your symptoms may be caused by strep or something else. That answer shapes what comes next, including next steps for treatment.

If strep is confirmed, antibiotics may help reduce the duration and severity of symptoms, reduce the chance of spreading it to others, and lower the risk of complications.

If you’re thinking about picking up an in-home strep test to save time, keep in mind that while these kits can be accurate, they leave a lot of room for user error, from how the swab is collected to how the result is read. Medical professionals recommend having a provider perform the test so you can trust the result.

When Should You Visit MainStreet?

Urgent care services may be appropriate if you have:

A sore throat with fever
Pain when swallowing
Swollen glands
Possible strep exposure
Symptoms that are getting worse
Symptoms that are not improving
Concern about spreading illness at work or home
Questions about testing

When Should You Go to the ER or Call 9-1-1?

Go to the nearest emergency room or call 9-1-1 for:

Difficulty breathing
Trouble swallowing saliva
Drooling because swallowing is difficult
Weakness/numbness along one side of the body or in the extremities
Drooping face and/or slurred speech
Severe dehydration
Chest pain
Confusion, fainting, and/or disorientation
Any other symptoms that appear to be life-threatening

What to Expect at MainStreet

When you come to MainStreet Family Care, we’ll go over your symptoms and any recent exposure to strep.

A medical provider will examine you and may recommend an urgent care strep test if it fits your symptoms. If something like flu or COVID could also be in the mix, the provider may suggest testing for those too. You’ll leave with clear next steps and a better understanding of what to expect.

Visit MainStreet for Strep Symptoms

Strep isn’t just for kids, and you don’t have to push through it. If your sore throat is slowing you down, our team is here to help.

MainStreet is open 7 days a week. Register online to save your spot in line. Online registration is not an appointment, but it can help reduce in-clinic wait times by adding you to the queue before you arrive.