PlushCare / Online Doctor / Primary Care / Strep Throat
To treat your strep throat, consult with one of our medical professionals online to prescribe antibiotics to eliminate throat pain. Get a new prescription to treat strep throat or refill an existing prescription today.
Medication services available 24/7 for adults and kids (3+)
Top quality, board-certified doctors
No insurance needed
Same-day prescriptions available*
*Prescriptions provided at doctor’s discretion.
Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less. Otherwise, new patient visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $69 for members.
Step 1
Book a same-day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Step 1
Book a same-day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
How pricing works
To request strep throat treatment and get a new prescription or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits
$14.99/month
First month free
Copay
For all visits
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
$14.99/month
First month free
$129
Repeats only $69
Initial visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $69 for active members.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection with various symptoms, including a painful sore throat with a sudden onset, pain while swallowing, and red or white patches in the back and on the roof of the mouth. These symptoms are often accompanied by a high fever. If your sore throat develops gradually rather than coming on suddenly, or you have a cough and congestion as well, these are more likely to be viral symptoms or allergies rather than strep.
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.
Antibiotics are the most effective medication to treat strep. You must receive a strep diagnosis in order to be treated with antibiotics. Our doctors can order a rapid strep test to determine the cause of your symptoms. If the test is positive, our doctors can prescribe antibiotics to get rid of the infection.
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:
Cefuroxime (Ceftin)
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Antibiotics can come with side effects, such as:
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
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.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor:
If you experience any of these common strep throat symptoms, it is important to see a doctor to diagnose strep throat as soon as possible, so that they can prescribe you antibiotics to eliminate the infection and avoid spreading it to others.
Seek immediate help if you experience:
The common cold, commonly caused by the adenovirus, usually starts with a sore throat. You may also experience a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and fatigue.
A sore throat is the hallmark symptom of pharyngitis. A cobblestone appearance toward the back of the throat (“cobblestone throat”) may also be present.
If you have the flu, your sore throat symptoms may be accompanied by a fever or chills, headache, nasal discharge, muscle aches, and fatigue.
A sore throat is a common symptom of tonsillitis, a condition where the tonsils in the throat become inflamed. It can be caused by viruses, such as the Epstein-Barr virus, or bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Most cases of acute tonsillitis are viral, but chronic sore throat may be related to a bacterial infection.
Although sore throats due to the cold or flu can get better on their own, strep throat needs to be treated with antibiotics to prevent further spread and avoid the risk of complications. The most common treatment for strep throat is a course of antibiotics.
Antibiotics can reduce uncomfortable symptoms within a couple of days and prevent the spread of the infection to others when taken within 48 hours of symptom onset. Most patients begin to feel better within a day or two of antibiotics. Speak to your doctor if you don’t start feeling better within 48 hours of starting antibiotics.
Some other tips to relieve symptoms include:
Medical treatment for strep throat is a course of antibiotics. Since strep throat is a bacterial infection, it is treated by antibiotics. To get antibiotics, you will need to see a doctor for a prescription, which is given after the doctor evaluates your symptoms takes a strep throat test, to confirm the cause.
Symptoms of strep throat can resolve a day or two after beginning treatment with antibiotics. The strep throat infection is usually completely cured after 10 days of taking antibiotics, so it is important to finish taking the prescribed course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better sooner.
Strep throat can get better within a week without treatment, however, you will remain contagious for two to three weeks without antibiotics. In addition, without treatment, you are at risk of developing serious complications, such as kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever.
•Strep throat is usually not dangerous to pregnant women, especially if you consult a doctor to get antibiotics it as soon as you notice symptoms. Antibiotics prescribed for strep throat, including penicillin and cephalosporin, should be safe for use during pregnancy.
•It is important to get treatment as soon as possible, because a high fever could pose a threat to the baby. A severe fever during your first trimester could prevent the fetus’ vital organs from developing properly.
•Antibiotics are generally safe for the baby, but taking more than prescribed can be harmful to both you and your baby. For this reason, it is important to take the antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms should generally improve within the first 24 hours of treatment. Make sure you take the complete course of the antibiotics you have been prescribed, even if you feel better. Not finishing the full course of prescribed antibiotics may leave bacteria in your system, allowing the bacteria to become immune to the antibiotics. If this happens, you may have to take more powerful antibiotics that can present harmful side effects to you and your baby
The best treatment for strep throat is a course of antibiotics. If strep throat spreads to your ear, it is even more important to see a doctor to get antibiotics, to stop the infection before serious complications arise.
