Strep Throat Treatment Questions and Answers

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make a person’s throat feel sore. Most people with a sore throat don’t have strep throat, but strep throat is still somewhat common. It’s more common in children, but it can affect people of all ages.

If you think you might have strep throat, or if you think your child may have it, you should see a medical professional right away. If strep throat isn’t treated, it can lead to complications like kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever may lead to painful and inflamed joints, or even heart valve damage.

The common signs and symptoms of strep throat include:

• Throat pain (this can have a quick onset)
• Nausea or vomiting (these symptoms are more common in young children)
• Swollen, reddened tonsils (sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus)
• Painful swallowing
• Red spots on the back or roof of the mouth
• Swollen and tender lymph nodes in the neck
• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Rash

A person can have some of the symptoms above but not have strep throat. Instead, the person might have a viral infection or another illness. A medical professional, like an urgent care professional, can provide diagnosis and treatment.

It’s important to seek treatment if you have swollen and tender lymph glands, a fever, a rash, or any problems breathing or swallowing. You should also seek care if you have a sore throat that has lasted over two days.

The best way to get rid of strep throat quickly is to go to urgent care for treatment! Urgent care can provide medication to cure strep throat and prevent it from spreading.

The most common treatment for strep throat is oral antibiotics. When an antibiotic is taken within two days of the onset of infection, the antibiotic can reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. It can also wipe out the bacteria causing the infection.

After treatment, you should start feeling better in a day or two! You may be able to speed up your recovery by getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of water, eating easy-to-swallow foods, or using a humidifier.

An antibiotic is the best way to treat strep throat. It’s safe for most patients too. It’s possible for strep throat to go away on its own in several days, but leaving strep throat untreated can be dangerous, so it’s best to have strep throat treated by a professional.

You can have strep throat treated right here at Immediate Care of Oklahoma! We’re able to provide prescription antibiotics and recommendations to help you recover. And since we’re an urgent care clinic, you can come see us for a walk-in appointment and get quick symptom relief. You can bring in your child or an elderly family member if they need our care.

We hope you found our Q&A helpful! Please contact us at Immediate Care of Oklahoma if you have any other questions, or simply come see us for immediate treatment. We’d be happy to hear from you or see you for any reason.