Strep Throat

What is strep throat?

Strep throat is a painful bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. By comparison, a typical sore throat is a viral infection, usually due to the same virus that causes a cold.

Strep spreads through the air or by direct contact. For example, you could have the bacteria on your hands and transfer it when touching an object or person. Bacterial-filled droplets also fill the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks.

Though strep throat is highly contagious, most people don’t know they’re spreading the bacteria. Strep is contagious a few days before symptoms appear.

What symptoms will strep throat cause?

Though the bacteria are in your body for days, your symptoms appear suddenly and cause extreme throat pain.

In addition to pain, you could have: 

• Difficulty swallowing
• Red, swollen tonsils
• Red spots on the back of your mouth
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Headache
• Skin rash
• Body aches
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Seek treatment at the first sign of symptoms. Without treatment, the strep bacteria will spread and can cause other inflammatory conditions, including rheumatic fever and kidney inflammation.

Visit the office or schedule an appointment with the caring Cermak Immediate Care team if you have:

• Strep throat symptoms
• Difficulty breathing
• Sore throat lasting longer than 48 hours
• Strep throat that doesn’t improve within 48 hours of taking antibiotics

You should also seek medical attention if you have what seems like a cold-related sore throat together with symptoms like a rash or swollen glands.

How is strep throat diagnosed?

In most cases, your Cermak Immediate Care provider can identify strep after examining your throat. However, they might do a rapid strep test to verify the diagnosis. The test requires a swab from your throat, and the results are ready in a few minutes in the on-site lab. 

How is strep throat treated?

You will need antibiotics to eliminate the bacterial infection. You can accelerate healing, reduce pain, and lower the risk of complications by starting antibiotics within the first 48 hours of the infection.

Your provider also recommends over-the-counter (OTC) medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to relieve your symptoms and reduce a fever. Anyone younger than 18 should never take aspirin because it may cause a life-threatening condition called Reye’s syndrome.

Don’t sit around hoping that your painful throat will improve. Call Cermak Immediate Care right away, book online, or walk into the nearest office.