Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewCausesSymptomsTreatmentPreventionTonsillectomy Considerations
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Prevention
Tonsillectomy Considerations
You can still get strep throat if you’ve had your tonsils removed. Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils.
Although swelling—and sometimes even infectious oozing—of the tonsils can happen withstrep throat, you can develop this infection in the lining of your throat with or without tonsils.
Kittiphan Teerawattanakul / EyeEm / Getty Images
Strep Throat Without Tonsils
Swollen, red, and painful tonsilsthat are sometimes coated in a white film or streaks of pus are one of the many symptoms of strep throat. That doesn’t mean removing your tonsils will prevent you from getting strep throat, though. If anything, you may have milder symptoms without the threat of red, swollen tonsils.
Strep throat is a bacterial infectionthat can affect many parts of your body. Without the presence of tonsils, the bacteria that causes this infection can colonize on a number of other surfaces. This can cause problems to develop outside of the throat like:
What Causes Strep Throat?
Group A strep is responsible for several different diseases or infections, including:
Group B strepcan also cause some strep throat infections, but this subtype more often causes things like:
Strep Throat Risk FactorsAnyone can get strep throat, but somerisk factorsinclude:Age, as it’s more common in children than adults, especially ages 5 to 15Close contact with someone who has strep throat, such as family members or adults who are in close contact with children (teachers, caregivers, etc.)Being in crowded settings, such as daycare centers, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and military training centers
Strep Throat Risk Factors
Anyone can get strep throat, but somerisk factorsinclude:Age, as it’s more common in children than adults, especially ages 5 to 15Close contact with someone who has strep throat, such as family members or adults who are in close contact with children (teachers, caregivers, etc.)Being in crowded settings, such as daycare centers, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and military training centers
Anyone can get strep throat, but somerisk factorsinclude:
Strep Throat Symptoms
Symptoms of a strep infectionin the throat outside of tonsil inflammation and pain include:
Some people carry group A strep with no symptoms at all and are called carriers. While carriers may not get symptoms of a strep throat infection, they can still transmit the bacteria to others.
Strep Throat vs. Tonsillitis
Strep throat can develop with or without inflammation of the tonsils and is almost always confirmed with laboratory testing for group A strep.
Strep Throat Treatment
Like most bacterial infections, strep throat is usually treated withantibiotics.Penicillinand amoxicillin are usually the first choice for treating a group A strep throat infection, but other antibiotics may also be used—usually if you have an allergy to penicillins.
Although antibiotics will help you resolve the bacterial infection causing your sore throat, there are other things you can do to ease your symptoms while you wait for the infection to clear.Supportive care for strep throatmight include things like:
When to See a Healthcare ProviderUntreated strep throat can lead to a more complicated illness, such as rheumatic fever (a disease affecting the heart, joints, brain, and skin).If you notice white or red spots at the back of your throat or the roof of your mouth, see your healthcare provider for testing and an antibiotic prescription.If your tonsils become swollen and enlarged—whether from strep throat or another infection—seek emergency care right away, especially if you are having trouble breathing.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Untreated strep throat can lead to a more complicated illness, such as rheumatic fever (a disease affecting the heart, joints, brain, and skin).If you notice white or red spots at the back of your throat or the roof of your mouth, see your healthcare provider for testing and an antibiotic prescription.If your tonsils become swollen and enlarged—whether from strep throat or another infection—seek emergency care right away, especially if you are having trouble breathing.
Untreated strep throat can lead to a more complicated illness, such as rheumatic fever (a disease affecting the heart, joints, brain, and skin).If you notice white or red spots at the back of your throat or the roof of your mouth, see your healthcare provider for testing and an antibiotic prescription.
If your tonsils become swollen and enlarged—whether from strep throat or another infection—seek emergency care right away, especially if you are having trouble breathing.
Strep Throat Prevention
There is no vaccine against strep throat, and you can get this infection repeatedly during your life.
The best way to keep from developing this infection is to avoid people who are sick and practice good hygiene. Typically a person who takes antibiotics for strep stops being contagious within 48 hours of starting treatment, whereas a person with untreated strep can remain contagious for two to three weeks.
Good hygiene may include:
When Should I Consider Getting My Tonsils Removed?
The only two real clinical indications for having your tonsils removed are obstructive sleep apnea andrepeated episodes of tonsillitis. Frequent bouts of strep throat may not be an indication since:
There is no accurate way to tell whether the bacteria causing your strep throat is in your tonsils or the other areas of your throat as a whole. In fact, most diagnoses of tonsillitis are made without any bacterial testing at all.
If you experience frequent throat infections or are looking to minimize your healthcare provider visits and time out of school or work due to throat infections, your healthcare provider may consider atonsillectomy. This procedure will not prevent you from getting strep throat, but according to research, it was associated with a better quality of life for most people after their surgery.
If you’re considering a tonsillectomy, discuss the risks and benefits of this surgery with your healthcare provider.
Summary
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that often causes inflammation and pain in the tonsils, but you can still get it after your tonsils are removed. Strep throat needs to be treated with prescription antibiotics, so it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis from a healthcare provider so you can get the medication you need. Untreated step throat could lead to serious complications.
A tonsillectomy is usually performed to treat either obstructive sleep apnea or frequent throat infections of any type. You should talk to your healthcare provider if you frequently get strep throat or other throat infections.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Strep throat: all you need to know.
MedlinePlus.Streptococcus infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.
Morad A, Sathe NA, Francis DO, McPheeters ML, Chinnadurai S.Tonsillectomy versus watchful waiting for recurrent throat infection: a systematic review.Pediatrics. 2017;139(2):e20163490. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3490
American Academy of Family Physicians.Strep throat.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Strep throat.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hygiene and respiratory viruses prevention.
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