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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough strep throat itself isn't dangerous, it may lead to serious complications if left untreated. These complications include other infections, such as:
- Tonsillitis or a collection of pus around the tonsils caused by infection (peritonsillar abscess)
- Sinus infection (sinusitis)
- Ear infection
- Scarlet fever, an illness characterized by a rash
- Inflammation of the kidney (poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis)
- Rheumatic fever
Problems with rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever causes inflammatory deposits (nodules) to form in various tissues, including the joints, skin and muscles. These nodules also may form on the heart muscle, the lining of the heart and especially the heart valves, causing scarring that can interfere with the flow of blood inside the heart. Although surgery can sometimes repair scarred valves, the damage may be permanent. In some cases this damage may lead to heart failure. However, the risk of developing severe complications from strep throat is low in the United States.
