Strep Throat Treatment Clinic in Edmond, OK

Strep throat is a common infection caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. The tonsils and throat become inflamed and painful due to the infection, and though not typically life-threatening, it requires urgent medical attention to prevent serious complications.

If any of the following symptoms apply to you, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention:

● Difficulty breathing or swallowing
● Fever over 101°F (38.3°C)
● Severe headache
● Rashes
● Swollen lymph nodes

Certain individuals are more likely to experience complications from strep throat and require urgent treatment. These include children under 3 years old, persons with long-term medical issues, and those with compromised immune systems, such as diabetes or heart disease.

Our committed team stresses the significance of early diagnosis. and treatment of strep throat. Without it, serious complications such as the spread of the infection, rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis, and necrotizing fasciitis can occur. Furthermore, untreated strep throat can increase the risk of transmission to others.

Our healthcare professionals typically prescribe antibiotics to treat strep throat. It can lessen the chance of complications and transmission, as well as the length and intensity of symptoms if taken within 48 hours of the sickness starting.

If you experience any of the symptoms requiring urgent treatment or are in a high-risk group, don’t hesitate to visit us. Our healthcare professionals will perform a physical exam, obtain a throat swab for testing, and prescribe antibiotics if strep throat is confirmed.

We ensure that the timing of the test is precise, typically conducting it within the first 24-48 hours of the onset of symptoms for the most accurate results. Our experienced medical staff carefully collects the specimen, ensuring a thorough swab from the back of the throat to prevent false negatives due to inadequate collection.

At our practice, we use high-quality strep tests that offer both sensitivity and specificity. This means that they can accurately identify individuals who have strep throat and exclude the infection in those who don’t.

We are mindful of the individual factors that might affect the accuracy of strep tests, such as underlying health conditions or recent antibiotic usage. Our medical team takes these factors into consideration when interpreting results.

Our rapid antigen detection tests offer quick results and are highly reliable in confirming a negative result. However, we understand that these tests may sometimes not detect the bacteria when it’s present. In such cases, we follow up with a throat culture test, which is more accurate with high sensitivity and specificity.

We know that false positives and negatives can occur. For instance, a person might be a carrier of the strep bacteria without being ill, leading to a false positive. Conversely, if the throat swab wasn’t adequate or the bacteria didn’t grow well in the lab, it could result in a false negative.

We interpret the results of strep tests in conjunction with the patient’s symptoms and clinical findings. If the rapid antigen detection test is negative but the patient’s symptoms strongly suggest strep throat, we may perform a throat culture to confirm the result.

We take your health seriously at Immediate Care of Oklahoma. That’s why we combine the results of our diagnostic tests with a comprehensive understanding of your symptoms and medical history to provide an accurate diagnosis. We believe that a patient’s health is a puzzle, and the strep test is just one piece of it.

The procedure is simple and fast. Our healthcare providers will gently swab the back of your throat to collect a sample, which is then placed on a test strip. The strip contains antibodies specific to the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. Within 10 to 15 minutes, you’ll have your results. This allows us to immediately diagnose and plan your treatment, which can help reduce the spread of the infection, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications.

The instant strep test is highly sensitive and specific to strep throat. A positive test result typically indicates that you need to take antibiotics to treat your strep throat. However, while our rapid strep tests are very specific, they may not be as sensitive, meaning a negative test result doesn’t always rule out strep throat.

In some cases, if our healthcare provider still suspects strep throat despite a negative rapid test, we may send a throat culture to our lab for further testing. While these results can take 24 to 48 hours, they provide a definitive diagnosis.

At Immediate Care of Oklahoma, we strive to provide transparent pricing to our patients. Our facility fee, which covers the cost of using our space and equipment, can range anywhere from $50 to $150 or more. Other potential charges might include an office visit, consultation, or interpretation of results, which can add an additional $100 to $200 to the total cost.

Please remember that these expenses do not account for the possible cost of antibiotics or other treatments if strep is diagnosed. There might also be additional fees for lab analysis or for the administration of any necessary medication.

While the strep test itself might not be excessively expensive, the total cost of getting a strep test at an urgent care center without insurance can quickly add up. We advise getting in touch with us personally to find out our prices and obtain the most accurate cost estimate for your specific situation.

We understand the concerns of uninsured patients and may offer discounts or payment plans in certain cases. It’s always worth asking about these options before receiving treatment. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 805 W Covell Rd. Edmond, OK 73003. We serve patients from Edmond OK, West Moore OK, Norman (HealthPlex) OK, Norman (24th) OK, Yukon OK, I-240 & Sooner RD OK, Tecumseh OK, Choctaw OK, and surrounding areas.