What Increases Your Risk Your risk of getting strep throat increases if you come in close contact with others, especially children, who have a strep infection. When should you call your doctor? Call your doctor today if you have: A red rash that feels like sandpaper. This may indicate scarlet fever.
Difficulty sleeping because your throat is blocked by swollen tonsils or adenoids. Weakness Shortness of breath Joint pain Raised red rash or lumps under the skin Uncontrolled, jerking movements of the arms or legs Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 days of treatment with an antibiotic.
Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is appropriate if your sore throat occurs with symptoms like those of a cold, such as sneezing, coughing, and a runny or stuffy nose. Examinations and Tests Strep throat is diagnosed from your medical history, a physical examination of your throat, and a lab test, such as a throat culture. But your doctor may begin treatment for strep throat before the result of your throat culture is back if you have three or four of the following symptoms: A recent fever of Throat culture is a test to find germs such as strep bacteria that can cause an infection.
A sample of cells from the back of your throat is added to a substance that promotes the growth of bacteria. If no bacteria grow, the culture is negative. If strep bacteria grow, the culture is positive.
Rapid strep test analyzes the bacteria in your throat to see if strep is the cause of your sore throat. The doctor uses a cotton swab to gather cells from the back of your throat for testing. A negative rapid strep test result can mean there are no strep bacteria present. But the rapid strep test can give negative results even when strep bacteria are present false-negative test results.
If the rapid strep test result is negative but strep throat is still suspected, your doctor may order a throat culture to verify the results. If the rapid strep test result is positive, a throat culture isn't needed. Antibiotic treatment can be started right away.
Antibiotics may not make you well faster. But they shorten the time you are able to spread the disease to others. Antibiotics also lower the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of your body. Testing is not needed: After antibiotic treatment, unless you still have symptoms. Testing may be done if symptoms return or you have had rheumatic fever and are at risk for it coming back.
For a person who was exposed to strep but has no symptoms. For instance, family members of a person who has strep throat do not need to be tested unless they start to have symptoms. Treatment Overview Antibiotics such as amoxicillin, cephalexin, or penicillin are used to treat strep throat. Antibiotics are commonly used to: Kill the bacteria and shorten the time you are contagious. You are typically no longer contagious 24 hours after you start antibiotics. Prevent rare complications.
Although uncommon, strep bacteria can spread to other parts of your body, causing ear or sinus infections or an abscess behind or around the tonsils peritonsillar abscess. Antibiotics may also prevent the infection from triggering your immune system to attack itself and cause serious conditions such as rheumatic fever. Relieve discomfort and speed healing to some degree.
Prevention To avoid getting strep throat, it is a good idea to avoid contact with anyone who has a strep infection. Bacteria are almost always transmitted by contact with tiny droplets from an infected person.
Strep throat is passed from one person to another by contact with the tiny droplets of an infected person's cough, sneeze, or breath. Bacteria can also live for a short time on doorknobs, water faucets, and other objects.
If you touch an infected object and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you can become infected with the bacteria or virus. Bacteria can also be carried on food. Home Treatment Your doctor may have prescribed an antibiotic for strep throat. Drink plenty of fluids and increase humidity moisture in the air in your home to help keep your throat moist. Herbal teas formulated for colds may help relieve symptoms. Get plenty of rest. Stay home the first day of antibiotic treatment.
You are still contagious and might pass the infection to others. Rest in bed if you feel very sick. Bedrest is not required if you feel fine. Take non-prescription medicines to relieve a painful sore throat and reduce fever. Try an over-the-counter anesthetic throat spray or throat lozenges, which may help relieve throat pain. Do not offer throat lozenges to young children as they are a choking hazard. If your child is younger than age 2, ask your doctor if you can give your child numbing medicines.
Medications Antibiotics are the treatment of choice for a confirmed strep throat infection. Antibiotics will reduce the time you are contagious. You are usually not contagious 24 hours after starting antibiotics. Antibiotic treatment for strep throat can also help prevent some of the rare complications related either to the strep infection itself or to the body's immune response to the infection. Complications of strep throat are rare but can occur, especially if strep throat is not properly treated.
Antibiotics may shorten the time you are sick by about one day. When antibiotics may be used Antibiotics may be used in the following situations: You have had a positive rapid strep test or positive throat culture. You have three or more of the following signs or symptoms: A recent fever White or yellow spots or coating on the throat or tonsils Swollen or tender lymph nodes on the neck Absence of signs of a cold or other upper respiratory illness, such as coughing or sneezing You have recently had rheumatic fever and have been exposed to strep.
Preventive antibiotics may be given in some cases. Several family members are having repeated strep infections as confirmed by positive throat cultures. Medicine choices Antibiotics such as amoxicillin, cephalexin, or penicillin are used to treat strep throat infection. What to think about Immediate treatment with an antibiotic after a positive rapid strep test may not make you well faster.
Surgery If strep throat continues to recur, you and your doctor may decide that you need surgery to remove the tonsils tonsillectomy. Surgery is considered when you: Have recurring episodes of strep throat or tonsillitis in a single year despite antibiotic treatment. Have abscesses around the tonsils that do not respond to drainage, or if an abscess is present in addition to other signs that you may need tonsillectomy.
Have persistent bad odour or taste in the mouth, which is caused by tonsillitis that does not respond to antibiotics. A strep carrier will test positive to a throat culture or rapid strep test, even when the individual is not experiencing any symptoms. If a strep carrier usually does not become ill from the bacteria in their system, what factors can change the bacteria to become an illness?
The following treatment options are available, if necessary:. FastMed Urgent Care is committed to providing the highest quality of care for all of your basic health needs, including the treatment of strep throat. Our state-of-the-art facilities are designed to promote a comfortable environment for each patient that walks through our doors.
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If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection. Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier. Complications can occur after a strep throat infection. This can happen if the bacteria spread to other parts of the body. Complications can include:. People can get strep throat more than once.
Having strep throat does not protect someone from getting it again in the future. While there is no vaccine to prevent strep throat, there are things people can do to protect themselves and others. The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often.
This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating. To practice good hygiene, you should:. You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed. Take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
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