GAS pharyngitis is associated with a few important complications. They are usually divided in suppurative and non-suppurative - i.e. purulent and non purulent complications.

The main non-suppurative complications are post-strep glomerulonephritis and acute rheumatic fever (which we did an episode on recently). A couple of the serious suppurative complications to be aware of is a peritonsillar or retropharyngeal abscess.

In general, antibiotics are over-prescribed for pharyngitis. Australian guidelines these days actually only advise antibiotics in patients who are at higher risk of the "non-suppurative" complications of GAS infection.

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(This isn't individual medical advice, please use your own clinical judgement and local guidelines when caring for your patients)