Strep Throat- Strep Treatment and Antibiotics
There are several infections that may affect your throat, including flu and sore throat. Even a common cold may have a sore throat as one of the symptoms. If you feel pain in your throat, then it is a good idea to get a strep throat test first to know what is causing discomfort in your throat. In this post, we are going to find out more about strep throat – its causes, symptoms, treatment, and how to prevent it.
What is Strep Throat?
Strep is a bacterial infection that affects your throat. The type of bacteria that is responsible for strep throat belongs to group A, streptococcus types of bacteria. To know exactly whether you are infected with a strep throat infection, you need to go for a throat culture or a strep test. This technique involves using a swab to extract and collect samples from the throat. The sample will then be taken to the lab, and tests will be done to check whether there is the presence of group A streptococcus. This group of bacteria is what causes strep throat. Strep throat is not the only infection caused by this type of bacteria. Other infections include pneumonia, scarlet fever, and abscesses.
How Strep Throat Test is Done
The physician will start by swabbing a sample from the back of the throat. Once the sample is collected, the content is placed in a small special plate called a culture. This is done to give the bacteria a conducive environment to grow. Once the bacteria grows, tests are done to establish which kind of bacterial infection it is. If the bacteria don’t grow, then it means that there is no presence of group A streptococcus bacteria. This means that the patient is not infected with strep throat. If you cannot pay to get a strep throat test, then there are clinics that offer free strep tests.
Strep Throat Symptoms
If someone is infected with strep throat, during the first few days, he or she will experience mild symptoms. These symptoms may include:
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swollen and red tonsils
- Abdominal pain
If the patient ignores the mild symptoms of throat infection and refuses to seek treatment, then the symptoms will continue to worsen. Severe symptoms of a strep infection include:
- Pain that lasts for more than two days
- Breathing problems
- Swallowing difficulties
- Joint pain
- A fever exceeding 101F
- Rash
- Discolored urine
If you discover that you have these symptoms, then the best thing to do is seek medical help from an urgent care clinic to get tested for strep throat near me. You will undergo strep throat tests, and if you are infected, you will get treated. Testing will include getting a swab test to find out whether you are actually suffering from strep throat.
Strep Throat Treatments
If you are infected with strep throat, then you should know that it is quite treatable. Once the doctor establishes that you are suffering from strep throat, antibiotics will be subscribed. You will also need to take pain-relieving medication to stop the pain. The doctor will also subscribe to other medications to prevent complications that may come from the disease spreading.
Antibiotics
The doctor will subscribe to antibiotics medication if the test produces positive results. These antibiotic medications will need to be administered orally. Once you have discovered that you are suffering from strep throat, you need to take prescribed antibiotics medication within 48 hours. Antibiotics will reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Conclusion
Symptoms such as headaches, throat pain, swollen lymph nodes, swollen and red tonsils, and abdominal pain show that you may be infected with strep throat. However, you need to get tested first to know the root cause of the symptoms. If you are infected with strep throat, then your doctor will subscribe to bacteria and pain medications to stop the pain and to stop the disease from spreading.