US Medical Term · conditions
Strep Throat
Faringitis estreptocócica
Also: Angina estreptocócica (regional variant)
What it means
Strep throat is an infection that affects the throat and tonsils. It is caused by group A Streptococcus, also known as group A strep, a type of bacteria that often lives in the nose and throat. It causes a sore, red throat, and the tonsils may be swollen and have white spots on them. You can get strep throat at any age, but it is most common in children ages 5 to 15 years old. The infection can spread from person to person through the air, for example from being close to someone who is coughing or sneezing. A health care provider will usually diagnose strep throat with a rapid test or a throat culture, and both tests use a swab of the throat.
Strep Throat in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Faringitis estreptocócica
- Gender and article
- feminine: la faringitis estreptocócica
- Pronunciation
- fah-reen-HEE-tees ehs-trehp-toh-KOH-see-kah
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| amigdalitis estreptocócica | General | Name the MedlinePlus en español page about the strep A test uses for this infection of the throat and tonsils. |
| infección de garganta por estreptococos | General | Wording in the title of a CDC page that the MedlinePlus en español topic page links to. |
Faringitis estreptocócica is the name MedlinePlus en español uses on its streptococcal infections page, where it describes the condition as dolor y enrojecimiento de la garganta. The term takes the feminine article: la faringitis estreptocócica. The MedlinePlus en español page about the strep A test calls the same infection of the throat and tonsils amigdalitis estreptocócica, so both names appear in MedlinePlus en español.
MedlinePlus en español explains that strep is the abbreviation of Streptococcus, and it writes estreptococo in Spanish. The two tests are the prueba rápida de estreptococos (rapid strep test) and the cultivo de garganta (throat culture), and the sample is taken with an hisopo (swab). Other words on these pages are amígdalas (tonsils), escarlatina (scarlet fever), fiebre reumática (rheumatic fever) and portador (carrier), a person who tests positive but has no symptoms.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | My throat started hurting suddenly yesterday, and it hurts a lot when I swallow. | Ayer me empezó a doler la garganta de repente, y me duele mucho al tragar. |
| Clinician | Do you have a fever, a headache, or stomach pain? | ¿Tiene fiebre, dolor de cabeza o dolor de estómago? |
| Patient | My daughter has a fever, and I saw white patches on her tonsils. | Mi hija tiene fiebre, y le vi manchas blancas en las amígdalas. |
| Clinician | I am going to do a rapid strep test. Please tilt your head back and open your mouth wide. | Voy a hacerle una prueba rápida de estreptococos. Por favor, incline la cabeza hacia atrás y abra bien la boca. |
| Clinician | I will take a sample from the back of your throat with a swab; it may make you gag a little. | Voy a tomarle una muestra de la parte de atrás de la garganta con un hisopo; puede provocarle algunas arcadas. |
| Patient | How long do the results take? | ¿Cuánto tardan los resultados? |
| Clinician | The rapid test was negative, so I am going to send a second sample to the lab for a throat culture. | La prueba rápida salió negativa, así que voy a enviar una segunda muestra al laboratorio para un cultivo de garganta. |
| Patient | Is strep throat contagious? When can my son go back to school? | ¿Es contagiosa la faringitis estreptocócica? ¿Cuándo puede volver mi hijo a la escuela? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Strep Throat |
| Spanish (Español) | Faringitis estreptocócica |
| Chinese (中文) | 鏈球菌咽喉炎 |
| Korean (한국어) | 연쇄상구균 인두염 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Viêm họng liên cầu khuẩn |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Strep Throat |
| Portuguese (Português) | Faringite estreptocócica |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | คออักเสบจากเชื้อสเตรปโตคอคคัส |
| Japanese (日本語) | 溶連菌性咽頭炎 |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: J02 → Acute pharyngitisRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Lungs and breathing
All terms in this area: Lungs and breathing — Pulmones y respiración
Sources
- Streptococcal Infections — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Infecciones por estreptococo — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Strep A Test — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Prueba de estreptococos A — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 7, 2026