What Is Strep Throat?
If you're feeling fine one moment -- and then suddenly your throat is killing you, you're running a high fever, and all your energy has vanished in a haze of illness -- you may have strep throat.
"Strep," in this case, stands for Streptococcus pyogenes, a common strain of bacteria that can live in your throat and nose for months without causing any harm. Tests show that about 20% of healthy people during the winter have the strep "bug" living uneventfully in their mouths or throats, without causing any symptoms. These carriers, who have no symptoms, do not spread strep germs and do not need to be tested or treated for strep.
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