What is a potential complication of untreated streptococcal throat infection?

Untreated streptococcal throat infections, also known as streptococcal pharyngitis, can lead to several complications. One significant potential complication is rheumatic fever. This autoimmune condition often develops following an infection with Group A Streptococcus, particularly when it is not adequately treated with antibiotics.

Rheumatic fever can manifest several weeks after the initial throat infection and is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including fever, joint pain, carditis (inflammation of the heart), and other systemic manifestations. The condition arises because the body’s immune response to the streptococcal bacteria mistakenly targets its own tissues, particularly in the heart and joints, leading to potentially serious sequelae, including rheumatic heart disease.

While conditions such as sinusitis, pneumonia, and otitis media can certainly arise from infections of the upper respiratory tract, they do not carry the same long-term risks associated with rheumatic fever, which specifically stems from the body's response to untreated streptococcal infections. Therefore, recognizing the potential for rheumatic fever highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment of streptococcal throat infections to prevent serious complications.