Treatments for Strep Throat
Are you experiencing sore throat, cough, sneezes, and other symptoms? If yes, then you might have a strep throat infection. It is a very contagious bacterial infection caused by streptococcus pyogenes. It can spread through inhaling respiratory droplets in the environment by infected persons coughing, and/or sneezing. However, it is easily treatable and preventable. In this article, you will learn treatment options for strep throat and tips to prevent this infection. Talk to our specialist for infectious diseases if you have any concerns.
Diagnosis
To diagnose strep throat, the doctor first performs a physical exam to look for signs of strep throat or throat infection. Most sore throats are caused by either viral or bacterial infection. That’s why sometimes it is difficult to rule out the cause to provide the right treatment. The doctor examines your throat for signs of inflammation and the neck for swollen lymph nodes and other symptoms. Once they confirm your symptoms, they use other tests to confirm your infection to provide the right treatment. Other tests include:
- Rapid antigen or strep test:
This test is performed to rule out whether your strep throat is caused by strep infection or another type of bacteria or germ. The doctor takes a long cotton swab to collect a swab sample from the back of the throat. The sample is tested in the lab to look for bacteria signs. It gives results in 5 minutes. While this test is reliable, sometimes it misses some cases of strep throat. That’s why doctors may recommend a throat culture test when the rapid test comes back negative, and the doctor suspects the infection.
- Throat culture:
In case a rapid strep test comes negative, and the doctor doubts the results, they may take another swab from the back of the throat and tonsils and send it to a lab for additional testing. It is called throat culture. This test is ordered when a person is at elevated risk of serious complications from untreated strep. One such complication is rheumatic fever, which mostly occurs in children and teens. So, the doctor may order throat culture tests if their rapid test is negative. In the case of adults, a doctor may not order throat culture tests because they are at minimal risk of rheumatic fever. For the results, you need to wait for several days.
Treatment for strep throat
While strep throat gets better on its own, taking treatment can help to get rid of the infection faster and prevent severe complications. If strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection, then the doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. These drugs can either kill the bacteria or stop their growth.
Most people get better after the antibiotic treatment, but it is necessary to complete the whole course of medicines as prescribed to ensure the infection is destroyed and not spread to others. Not completing the course can even lead to antibiotic resistance which can make the infection severe. So, make sure you complete the course as prescribed. It can last anywhere between 7 to 15 days (about 2 weeks).
Here are the antibiotics that are approved by CDC for use:
- Penicillin (oral or intramuscular)
- Amoxicillin (oral)
- Cephalexin (oral)
- Cefadroxil (oral)
- Clindamycin (oral)
- Clarithromycin (oral)
- Azithromycin (oral)
Usually, doctors prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin to treat strep throat. In case you have a penicillin allergy, then a doctor may prescribe clindamycin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin.
If you are diagnosed with strep throat but don’t have any symptoms, then, the doctor won’t prescribe antibiotics. Because you may get a low-level infection that can’t spread to others and may not cause complications. Self-care at home is enough to manage the infection until you recover.
Here are some self-care techniques you can use to improve your symptoms until you recover. It includes:
- Take enough rest.
- Drinking warm liquids like tea or broth. However, avoid extremely hot foods or drinks because they can irritate the throat.
- Don’t smoke and avoid smoky environments because it irritates the throat.
- Drink cold drinks to relieve throat soreness.
- Take over the counter (OTC) medicines to ease your pain, swelling, and fever.
- Gargling with a mixture of salted warm water or mouthwash to lower swelling and alleviate pain.
- Suck on ice cubes, throat lozenges, or popsicles to reduce throat irritation.
- Use a cool-mist humidifier to ease your throat.
If strep throat occurs in children, your doctor will prescribe the same course of antibiotics as adults. Parents and caregivers should be responsible for ensuring they take medicine on time and complete the course. They can follow the above-mentioned home remedies to ease the symptoms of strep throat in their children.
Prevention
There’s no vaccine for strep throat, but several ways can help you prevent strep throat or lower its frequency, including:
- Keep your hands clean: Frequently wash your hands with soap and water to prevent most infections. If water or soap is not available, then use hand sanitizer instead.
- Cover your mouth when coughing: This protects other people from getting infected. Cover your mouth with a tissue or the inside of your elbow rather than your hands and throw the tissue or wash your clothes.
- Isolate personal items: Make sure you don’t share your items like towels, nail cutters, clothes, eating utensils, drinking glasses, etc. with others.
- Clean all surfaces: Make sure you frequently clean commonly touched surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, and appliance handles.
- Avoid close contact with those who are ill: If a person is sick with a sore throat, avoid close contact with them until they recover.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices: Make changes in your lifestyle to stay healthy and boost your immune system. It may include:
- Eating a healthy well-balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly
- Getting enough sleep
- Manage your stress
- Quit smoking
- Avoid alcohol or drink in moderation.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes sore throat, fever, rash, and other symptoms. However, it’s not serious and easily treatable with antibiotics and home remedies. But in some cases, it can be severe. So, you need to try to prevent it by following the above-mentioned tips to avoid strep throat infection and keep yourself and others healthy.
Need help with strep throat, visit our infectious disease specialist in Brooklyn clinic to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!!
Visit our team of Specialists for infectious diseases at Doral Health & Wellness on 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212. We also offer other services, such as vaccinations, immunizations, and blood testing. Call us on 13473845690 to get a consultation from our clinic or log on to https://doralhw.org/.