Strep throat treatment available online today

Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A streptococcus, causes a strep throat infection. The bacteria that causes strep can spread by sharing food and drinks and engaging in close contact with a strep carrier, which is very contagious. You can also get strep throat by touching an infected surface and then touching your face, especially your mouth, nose, or eyes.

• Throat pain with a sudden onset

• Red, swollen tonsils, often with white patches

• Pain upon swallowing

• Tender, swollen, lymph nodes

• Small red spots on the back of the roof of the mouth

• Body aches

• A high fever (101° F or higher)

• Headache

• Rash

• Nausea or vomiting, especially in younger children

Although these are common strep symptoms, other conditions can appear with the same symptoms including. A viral infection such as the cold or flu can have similar symptoms. This is why it is important to see a doctor to determine the cause of your sore throat and receive effective treatment. If your doctor suspects strep throat, they will take a throat culture to confirm the cause.

Some other tips to relieve symptoms include:

• Hydrate: It's important to stay hydrated to prevent dehydration due to fever and keep your throat lubricated.

• Sleep: Your body needs adequate rest to fight the infection.

• Eat soft foods: This can include eating soups, popsicles, applesauce, mashed potatoes, and other foods that are easy to swallow to reduce pain.

• Humidifying: Humidifiers can help keep your nose and throat moist, relieving pain.

• Stop smoking: Smoking and exposure to second hand smoke can aggravate symptoms.

Complications of untreated strep throat

It is important to treat strep with antibiotics right away to avoid spreading of the infection to other areas of the body and risking damage to your immune system.

Infection can spread to:

• The middle ear: This can lead to fever, ear pain, and hearing issues.

• The sinuses: A sinus infection can lead to congestion, fever, and pain.

• The lining of the brain and spinal cord: This infection is called meningitis and can cause fever, headache, and a stiff neck. While very rare, meningitis is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately

Immune damage can include:

• Kidney inflammation: Left untreated, strep can cause post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), characterized by kidney inflammation. Symptoms include a high blood pressure, dark urine, swelling in the face, hands, and feed, fatigue, and decrease urination frequency. Children under the age of seven years old have the highest risk for this condition.

• Rheumatic fever: If strep is not fully treated or the course of prescribed antibiotics is not completed, bacteria can remain in the tonsils and cause an immune response throughout the body. This can cause the body to attack its own organs, especially the joints and heart valves. Symptoms of rheumatic fever include fever, joint pain, jerky movements, inflammation of the heart, and rarely, a skin rash. Children ages five to fifteen years old are most likely to develop rheumatic fever from an untreated strep infection. Antibiotics can treat rheumatic fever, but any tissue or organ damage caused from the infection could be permanent.

• Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDAS): PANDAS refers to strep causing a sudden onset or escalation of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or a tic disorder such as Tourette’s syndrome. Children younger than twelve years old are most likely to develop PANDAS.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics can kill the group A Streptococcus bacteria that cause strep throat. Antibiotics will have no effect on sore throats caused by viruses. The most common antibiotics prescribed to treat strep are penicillin and amoxicillin. They are safe and effective.

Patients allergic to penicillin may be able to take one of these alternative antibiotics:

Side effects of antibiotics

Antibiotics can come with side effects, such as:

These side effects are usually mild and should stop once you finish the medicine. If they are severe or continue afterwards, speak to a doctor immediately

Although rare, some people can have an allergic reaction to antibiotics. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:

• Wheezing

• Rash

• Trouble breathing

• Fast heartbeat

• Dizziness

Seek emergency medical attention immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

A course of antibiotics to treat strep throat is usually taken for 10 days. You can start to feel better 24 hours after starting them. 24 hours after starting antibiotics, you will no longer be contagious and can go back to school or work.

It is important to finish the complete course of antibiotics to completely get rid of the infection and avoid the possibility of developing antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Cold

Flu

Sore throat

Tonsillitis

Sinus infection