Strep Throat Treatment Online

Strep throat is a type of bacterial infection that can make your throat feel painful, sore, and scratchy. Strep throat infections are caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A Streptococcus.

The most common symptoms of strep throat include:

• Sore, scratchy throat
• Painful swallowing
• Headache and/or irritability
• Fever
• Tender, swollen lymph nodes around the neck
• Tiny red spots toward the back of the roof of the mouth

While strep throat is more common in children, it can affect people of all ages. If you or your child experiences any of the signs of symptoms of strep throat, it’s essential to see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of strep throat include: Itchy and sore throat, small red spots on the roof of your mouth, the sudden onset of a fever that is 101° F or higher, general Fatigue, voice change/scratchy throat, headache, chills and shaking, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, tender, swollen lymph nodes on either side of the neck, abdominal pain, a skin rash (known as scarlet fever).

Yes, our doctors can write prescriptions for strep throat. Antibiotics are the first line of treatment for strep throat and will be prescribed. Some common antibiotics our doctors prescribe for strep throat include: Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Augmentin.

Home remedies for strep throat should only be used in conjunction with antibiotic treatment. Otherwise the infection can get worse and spread. In addition to antibiotic treatment there are some home remedies you can use for symptom relief: Drink plenty of fluids, consume cold liquids and foods, use a cold humidifier, suck on throat lozenges, mix about one to two teaspoons of salt in eight ounces of water.

Without proper treatment with strep throat antibiotics, individuals with strep throat may be contagious for up to 1 month.

When an individual infected with Group A Streptococcus bacteria, they typically begin to present symptoms about 2 to 5 days after exposure. However, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control, “some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. An infected person can spread strep throat to others by coughing, sneezing, or talking, which creates small respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria.”

Treatment with strep throat antibiotics can stop the infection from spreading. People who take antibiotics to treat strep stop being contagious after approximately 24 hours.

Strep throats are bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus bacteria. However, viral infections can also cause a sore throat.

To find out whether your sore throat is a sign of viral or bacterial infection, you’ll need to pay attention to your symptoms and the length of your sore throat.

• A common cold is a viral infection with a sore throat that lasts 24-48 hours.
• Strep throat is a bacterial infection with a sore throat that lasts up to 5 days.
• Tonsillitis is a bacterial infection with a sore throat that lasts 4-10 days.

Antibiotics are only used to treat bacterial infections. If you’re not sure whether your infection is viral or bacterial, your doctor will be able to diagnose your infection and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Yes, treatment with antibiotics is necessary for strep throat. Unlike ear infections, which are viral in nature, strep throat is a bacterial infection and will not go away on its own. If left untreated, strep throat can lead to serious complications, including kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever.

When taken within the first 48 hours of the illness’s onset, antibiotics can reduce the severity of duration of symptoms. You should start feeling better and showing improvement within 24-48 hours of starting treatment with antibiotics.

With that said, it’s important that you finish the prescribed course of antibiotics to avoid recurring infections or developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The best antibiotics for strep throat are penicillin and amoxicillin. They are the most effective and affordable, and they come with few side effects.

Some antibiotics your doctor might prescribe for strep include:

• Penicillin: Unless you’re allergic, penicillin is the best antibiotic for sore throat infection. The most common side effects of penicillin include nausea and vomiting.
• Amoxicillin: A broad-spectrum form of penicillin, amoxicillin, may be more effective and convenient for some patients. A single daily dose of amoxicillin may be just as effective as multiple doses of penicillin taken in a day. However, amoxicillin can more commonly cause skin rash and gastrointestinal problems.
• Amoxicillin Clavulanate Potassium: Amoxycillin clavulanate potassium is more frequently used to treat recurring cases of strep throat. Marketed as Augmentin, amoxicillin clavulanate potassium is resistant to degradation or damage caused by waste products, such as beta-lactamase created by Streptococcus. The main side effect of amoxicillin clavulanate potassium is diarrhea.
• Azithromycin: Azithromycin is best used for those who are allergic penicillin or have tried penicillin with no results.
• Clarithromycin: Clarithromycin goes by the brand name Biaxin and may act as a good alternative for those with penicillin allergies.
• Clindamycin: Clindamycin is effective for those who are allergic to penicillin or have a case of strep throat that is resistant to penicillin.
• Cefdiner: Branded as Omnicef, research suggests that a 5-day course of cefdinir treatment is equal to a 10-day regimen with penicillin.

Speak to a doctor today to find out which antibiotic is best for you.

In short, it depends. If your sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, then antibiotics are the best course of treatment. However, bacterial infections are much less common than viral infections.

Because bacterial infections don’t account for all sore throats, and since most sore throats are caused by viruses, you typically won’t receive antibiotics for a throat infection unless you have strep throat. Antibiotics will not cure a sore throat that is caused by anything but bacteria.

For bacterial throat infections such as strep throat, antibiotics for a throat infection may be prescribed.

Here is a list of commonly prescribed antibiotics for throat infection:

• Amoxicillin
• Penicillin

The best antibiotic for sore throat infection will be at your doctor’s discretion. However, these two antibiotics are typically prescribed, and are able to treat most throat infections. Book an appointment to find out which medication is best for you.

If you think you have a throat infection, you can avoid spreading it to others by refraining from kissing others or sharing drinks, eating utensils, or toothbrushes while having any symptoms. If you are diagnosed with a throat infection, especially strep throat, it is recommended that you throw away your toothbrush once symptoms start to resolve to avoid re-infection.

Think you may have a throat infection? Book an appointment with a PlushCare doctor and get a prescription today.

Your tonsils, known as palatine tonsils, are two masses of soft tissue found in the back of your throat. They are composed of tissue similar to lymph nodes covered with a pink mucus membrane.

Your tonsils are involved in the lymphatic system and are designed to keep you from getting infections. However, tonsils themselves can become infected or otherwise require removal, which generally does not have any effect on your health or immunities.

Removing the tonsils will not eliminate your chances of getting strep throat; you can still get strep throat. The infection is not localized to the tonsils alone. Even without tonsils, children can still get strep throat, but get it less frequently as they get older.