Cases of strep throat infections rebounded in the U.S. following a downward trend during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strep throat is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by streptococcus pyogenes, which can cause a sore throat, fever, headache, and swollen glands. If left untreated, the infection can cause further complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Using data compiled over the last several years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers at Epic Research found that strep throat infections, like other infectious diseases, fell significantly — about 25% — in 2020 and remained low throughout 2021.
Researchers noted that this drop coincided with COVID-19 pandemic precautions.
Strep throat infections typically follow a seasonal pattern, increasing in September and peaking around February before cases begin falling off again. In September 2022, when most pandemic restrictions had lifted, strep infections began increasing, and by February 2023, they were at the highest levels seen since February 2017.
In fact, strep throat encounters in February 2023 were nearly 30% higher than the previous peak in 2017.
While strep throat was most often diagnosed in children ages 4-13, all age groups saw an uptick in cases of strep.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, told Fox News that this rise in cases could be attributed to other respiratory illnesses circulating among the population.
“The recent assault of viruses, including COVID-19, have weakened people’s immune systems,” said Siegel, according to Fox News.
Researchers saw a similar pattern with other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza and RSV. Cases of these virus-related illnesses dropped significantly during pandemic precautions and began increasing last fall.
Health officials in the state of Maryland warned of the rise in strep throat cases and advised parents to be vigilant in monitoring symptoms exhibited by their children.
“To every parent, you know your child better than anyone. If something is off with the child, especially if they’re not eating right because they have such a sore throat, or they’re not as energetic, call the pediatrician,” Panagis Galiatsatos, associate professor of medicine at John Hopkins Medicine, told WMAR 2 News.
Since strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection, it can usually be treated effectively with antibiotics.
“Antibiotics for strep throat reduce how long you are sick and prevent the infection from getting more severe and spreading to other parts of the body,” Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in Scottsdale, Arizona, told Fox News.
“If you have strep throat, stay home until you no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours,” Johnson cautioned.
In addition, doctors recommend that persons with strep infections wash their hands frequently with soap and water, avoid sharing eating utensils, and cover their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, so as not to spread the infection to others.
Overweight and obese individuals, in particular, should exercise caution around persons infected with respiratory ailments. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, obesity contributes to a weakened immune system, leaving obese individuals more susceptible to illnesses such as influenza and strep throat.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine reveals that “there is a positive feedback loop between local inflammation in adipose tissue and altered immune response in obesity, both contributing to the development of related metabolic complications.”
