We've all had a cold with a sore throat at some point in our lives. But every year, more than 10-million people end up with a more severe throat infection.

Ciara Richard says "My throat was really red and it looked irritated and it really hurt."

Registered nurse Joan Pape-Knoll says that Ciara had strep throat, which is an infection caused by bacteria and is spread through person-to-person contact with nasal secretions or saliva. "That means by coughing, sneezing, touching something, you can spread the disease."

Joan also says that it is important to remember strep cannot be diagnosed through a physical exam alone. A culture and swab has to be performed and once it is diagnosed it's important to treat it right away, otherwise serious complications can occur. "It can actually go to the heart and cause heart damage. Strep is easily treated with antibiotics. You have to take the medication as prescribed."

Once Ciara recovered from her strep throat she realized there was a silver lining after all. "I got to miss school, and on the bright side my mom treated me like a princess."

Symptoms of strep can inlcude: fever , sore throat, headache, stomachache, nausea or chills.

Strep throat is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15 and also most common in late fall, winter and early spring.