Strep Throat
Strep throat is an illness caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. It shows up with symptoms like a sore throat, fever, and white spots on the tonsils. To diagnose it quickly, doctors use a throat swab test.
The infection spreads through coughs, sneezes, and touching surfaces with the bacteria. Strep throat often affects kids aged 5-15.
To prevent it, wash your hands often and don’t share personal items. It is important to tell strep throat apart from other illnesses like colds and mono. Treatment includes relieving symptoms and finishing all prescribed antibiotics.
Strep Throat Treatment
Find pain relief and healing with care from Founders Family Medicine.
Getting an urgent care appointment can help you get treated quickly, lowering the chances of complications and helping you get back to your routine.
We provide testing, diagnosis, and treatment for strep throat at our Castle Rock urgent care clinic. Avoid the long waits at the emergency room. Instead, get the proven care you need faster and at a more affordable cost.
To schedule your visit, call 303‑688‑8666.
What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus. It is different from a viral sore throat, which doesn’t need medical treatment.
Strep throat does require medical treatment. It usually comes with a very sore throat, fever, painful swallowing, and white spots on the tonsils. Unlike viral infections, strep throat needs antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria and to prevent complications. Over-the-counter medications for pain relief can help with the discomfort.
It is important to treat strep throat because if left untreated, it can lead to serious problems like rheumatic fever and sinus infections. Children are especially at risk and need to be treated quickly.
How Does Strep Throat Spread?
Strep throat spreads like other common illnesses that impact the respiratory system.
It spreads mainly through tiny droplets in the air or on surfaces when people with strep throat cough, sneeze, or share contaminated items. These respiratory droplets can be inhaled or touch the mouth or nose, causing infection. The bacterium, Group A Streptococcus, can also stay on surfaces for a long time, making it easy to catch from touching things and then touching your face.
To become infected with strep throat, the bacteria must enter your system. Quick treatment with antibiotics helps ease symptoms and prevents complications. Kids are more likely to get strep throat and can spread it easily, so it is important to manage it well at home and in the community.
Unfortunately, Group A Strep can live on surfaces for months if not properly cleaned. Good hygiene and early medical care are key to stopping the spread of this infection.
Risk Factors
People who are in close contact with someone who has strep throat, like family members or classmates, are more likely to catch the infection. Strep throat is caused by a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus (GAS) and spreads through tiny droplets when someone coughs or sneezes. Places where people are close together, like schools and homes, are common spots for the infection to spread.
Kids aged 5 to 15 are especially at risk because their immune systems are still developing, and they spend a lot of time in school where they can catch germs easily. A fever and sore throat are the usual first signs of strep throat, and it is important to treat them quickly to avoid serious problems. If not treated, strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever, which can permanently damage the heart valves.
To prevent complications from strep throat, it is important to diagnose and treat it early. Doctors often use a quick throat swab test to check for the bacteria and start treatment right away. People who have had strep throat before or get it often are also at higher risk, so it is important to keep an eye on them and follow good hygiene practices in group settings.
Common Symptoms of Strep Throat
At first, strep throat feels like any other sore throat. However, strep throat distinguishes itself quickly. Unlike the common cold, strep throat doesn’t typically cause cough, runny nose, or sneezing.
Some patients also experience nausea, vomiting, headache, or stomach pain, adding to the discomfort.
Unlike colds, strep throat infection doesn’t usually cause coughing, runny nose, or sneezing. The fever is often what makes people go to the doctor. This fever can be moderate to high and makes you feel really bad. Painful swallowing can lead to loss of appetite and less drinking, which can cause dehydration.
It is important to spot these symptoms early and see a doctor quickly. Getting the right treatment fast can help you get better sooner and avoid problems.
Diagnosing and Treating Strep Throat
Strep throat requires treatment to heal the infection and relieve pain.
A simple throat swab test detects strep. The back of the throat is swabbed then the swab is tested for the presence of Group A Strep. This test is important to tell strep throat apart from viral infections, which don’t need antibiotics. A rapid strep test provides quick, in-office results. If the rapid test is negative but the symptoms point to strep, a lab culture test can offer a more accurate result.
Antibiotics treat strep throat. Once prescribed and taken, the symptoms resolve quickly for most patients. These medicines help relieve symptoms and prevent complications like rheumatic fever or sinus infections. It is especially important to treat children promptly because they can have more serious problems if their strep throat isn’t treated. Besides antibiotics, drinking plenty of fluids and getting lots of rest at home is important for recovery.
Early detection and treatment of strep throat are crucial. This reduces the risk of complications and helps children recover faster, ensuring they receive the best care possible.
Antibiotics for Strep Throat
Antibiotics are important for treating strep throat because they attack the Group A Streptococcus bacteria that cause the infection. Starting antibiotics quickly helps reduce symptoms and prevents serious problems like rheumatic fever and sinus infections. This is especially important for children.
Doctors often prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin because they work well and are safe. The treatment usually lasts 10 days to make sure all the bacteria are gone. It is very important to finish all the medicine to avoid getting sick again or the bacteria becoming resistant.
Children get strep throat more often, so they need quick and effective treatment. Besides medicine, home care is also important. Parents should ensure their kids drink plenty of fluids and get enough rest. Starting antibiotics soon makes the sickness less contagious, so kids can go back to their normal activities faster and with less disruption.
Recurrent Strep Throat
Recurrent strep throat happens when someone gets strep throat multiple times in a short period. This can be due to a few reasons, like being a carrier of the bacteria or being around someone who has it often. It is important to find out why it is happening so we can treat it effectively.
Strep throat can come back if the infection wasn’t fully treated the first time, or if someone didn’t finish their antibiotics. Symptoms like a very sore throat and fever can be tough to deal with, especially if they keep coming back. It is important to get a throat swab test to confirm strep throat and then take antibiotics as prescribed.
To prevent strep throat from coming back, we need to treat the current infection and take steps to stop future ones. This might mean checking for environmental factors, teaching good hygiene, and in serious cases, considering removing the tonsils. Understanding why strep throat keeps coming back is key to stopping it and helping patients feel better.
Complications from Strep Throat
While complications are rare, they do happen. They can cause serious health problems if the infection is not treated quickly and properly.
When strep bacteria spread to other parts of the body, serious illness may occur. This is one reason it is important to seek treatment quickly for strep throat symptoms.
Children are more likely to get strep throat complications, though rare, which means that careful attention from doctors and parents is important. Taking care of sick kids at home helps manage symptoms and stops the illness from spreading. It is important to make sure kids are fever-free for at least 12 hours before they go back to their usual activities.
Getting antibiotics quickly is key to stopping these problems. Founders Family Medicine can diagnose and treat strep throat fast. It is important to teach caregivers to make sure kids finish all their antibiotics and stay fever-free before returning to their normal activities.
Strep vs. Sore Throat
Knowing the difference between strep throat and regular sore throat is important to get the right treatment and avoid problems.
Strep throat has clear signs like fever, pain when swallowing, and white patches on the tonsils. On the other hand, a viral throat infection might come with a cough, runny nose, and sneezing, which don’t usually happen with strep throat. A throat swab test can find out if you have strep throat.
Strep throat spreads easily, so the person should stay away from others until they start antibiotics and are fever-free for at least 12 hours. Parents need to be careful, as kids with untreated strep throat can get complications like rheumatic fever. Knowing the symptoms and getting medical help on time is key to handling these infections well.
Strep vs. Common Cold
Understanding the differences between strep throat and the common cold is important for proper diagnosis and treatment.
The common cold is usually caused by viruses and includes symptoms like coughing, a runny nose, and sneezing. Strep throat, on the other hand, presents with symptoms like fever, pain when swallowing, and white patches on the tonsils. Unlike the common cold, strep throat does not usually cause coughing or a stuffy nose.
Doctors diagnose strep throat with a throat swab test that gives quick results. The common cold is diagnosed based on symptoms.
Strep throat requires antibiotics to kill the bacteria, reduce the chance of spreading it, and prevent complications like rheumatic fever or sinus infections. The common cold is treated by managing symptoms since it is caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not needed.
Knowing how these conditions differ helps ensure proper care and reduces the risk of complications, especially for children.
Strep vs. Mono
Understanding the differences between strep throat and mono is important for the right diagnosis and treatment. Both can cause a sore throat and fever, but they come from different germs and need different treatments.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics to get better. Mono, on the other hand, is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and antibiotics won’t help with this virus.
Mono often causes tiredness, swollen lymph nodes, and an enlarged spleen, along with a long-lasting sore throat. It is usually confirmed with blood tests.
Both illnesses can lead to complications if not treated properly. Mono can cause the spleen to rupture, especially in kids who do heavy physical activities.
It is important to know which illness a child has to get the right treatment and avoid these problems.
Strep Throat in Children
Children more frequently experience strep throat than adults, but complications are rare.
It’s important to know the signs and symptoms in kids so they can get treated quickly. School-aged children are especially at risk. They often show signs like throat pain, swollen tonsils, swollen glands, and fever. Spotting these signs early helps in getting the right treatment and avoiding problems.
Visit Founders Family Medicine for a strep test.
After seeking professional medical assistance, soothe the sore throat with at-home care. Ease the pain with OTC pain medication and throat lozenges. Encourage children to drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated, especially if swallowing hurts.
We specialize in pediatric care with a team experienced in providing compassionate care for children.
Guidelines for Returning to Normal Activities
Strep throat is contagious, so it is best to stay home and avoid contact with others until you begin treatment with antibiotics. Keep children home from school, daycare, and other activities.
Children with strep throat should stay home from school or daycare until they have no fever for at least 12 hours and have taken antibiotics for 24 hours. This time helps reduce the chances of spreading the illness and helps ease symptoms.
Going back to activities too soon can spread the infection and cause problems. Parents need to take care of their child at home and watch for any symptoms that don’t go away, which might need a visit to the doctor.
These steps help ensure a safe and healthy return to daily routines, protecting both the child and the community.
Schedule an Urgent Care Appointment for Strep Throat
Founders Family Medicine offers treatment for strep throat at our Castle Rock clinic.
Booking an urgent care appointment for strep throat helps you get a quick diagnosis and effective treatment. This lowers the risk of complications and spreading the illness.
While we offer telehealthcare options, we require an office visit for a proper diagnosis of strep throat. Patients can get a throat swab test to confirm strep infection. If the test is positive, our doctors can start antibiotic treatment right away. This helps to reduce symptoms and avoid problems like rheumatic fever or sinus infections.
For children, Founders Family Medicine offers special care to ensure they get the right treatment for strep throat. Parents should book an urgent care appointment as soon as they see symptoms. In addition to medical care, keeping the child hydrated and rested helps them recover faster.
If you’re experiencing strep throat symptoms, contact us to schedule an appointment.
