Strep throat can leave you feeling pretty crummy with a sore throat and fever. After a few days and maybe some antibiotics, it should go away and you'll be fine. Or at least that's the case for most of us. According to a new study, the problems may be just beginning.
A new study shows that some kids can develop neurological disorders after a strep infection.
Strep throat is a very common infection.
While most children get over a strep infection without any problems, a study in The Journal Pediatrics finds that for a small group of kids that's not the case.
The study by researchers in Seattle found that strep throat infections can triple a child's risk of developing obesessive compulsive disorders or tic disorders like Tourette's Syndrome.
Pediatric infectious disease doctor Iain Fraser said the disorders will only occur in children who haven't yet reached puberty, and that genetics plays a factor.
"It's auto-immune, which means it's the bodies reaction to the infection rather than the infection itself that's causing the symptoms," Dr. Fraser said.
Dr. Fraser said the good news is that the majority of children who get a strep infection don't have to worry about developing these neurological disorders.
"The vast, vast majority of kids with strep will not go on to develop these complications," Dr. Frasier said.
Doctors plan to do more research in this area.
Again, most children who get strep throat will not develop any of these neurological disorders after the infection clears.
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