Strep Throat Treatment: Antibiotics, Medicine, Home Remedies (original) (raw)
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Strep Throat Treatment
- Antibiotic for Strep Throat
- Complications
- FAQs
What is strep throat?
Strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection known as A streptococcus.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, however, in some cases, the sore throat might be caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep), which is known as strep throat. This bacterium can also cause skin infections. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports strep throat causes an estimated 5.2 million outpatient visits each year in people under 65 years old.
Strep throat treatment involves antibiotics and other measures, including rest, hydration, and pain relievers. If you have strep throat, stay home until you no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours. It's important to practice good hygiene to stop strep throat from spreading.
Main causes of strep throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A Streptococcus (GAS). The infection is highly contagious and spreads through droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs. It can also spread by sharing food or drinks with the infected individual.
Who can get strep throat?
Strep throat is more common among children aged 5 to 15 but can affect people of all ages. It's rare in children under 3 years of age. Adults who are parents of school-aged children or who are often in contact with children are more at risk for strep throat. You're also at higher risk for strep throat if you have close contact with a person with strep throat as it's highly contagious.
What are the symptoms of strep throat?
You may have a strep throat if you have:
- A painful throat, especially while swallowing
- A dry, scratchy throat
- Redness in the back of the mouth
- Bad breath
- Mild cough
- Swollen neck glands
- Low-grade fever
Other common symptoms include a fever and tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth called petechiae. Some people may have headaches, nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting. However, not all people with strep throat have symptoms.
If your child has a sore throat, they may have similar symptoms; however, children may develop a fever and appear less active.
When should you see a doctor for strep throat?
A severe or long-lasting sore throat could be strep throat, which is a bacterial throat infection. In this case, see a doctor.
See a doctor if you have:
- A sore throat that does not improve after a week
- Frequent sore throats within the last four months
- Concerns about your condition
- Fever and feeling hot and shivering
- Weak immunity because of diabetes or chemotherapy
- High fever (more than 100°F/37.8°C)
- Ear pain
Visit a hospital's emergency department if you have:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Drooling
- Stridor (high-pitched sound while you are breathing)
- Passing out
- Fast heart rate
- Severe symptoms that worsen quickly
Diagnosis for strep throat
A healthcare provider can test if you have strep by doing a rapid strep test or throat culture. A rapid strep test looks for antigens, which are substances that cause your immune system to produce antibodies against it. The results can be ready in 10 to 20 minutes. However, the test may be negative even if strep is present, so a throat culture may be needed. A throat culture looks for Strep A bacteria. It's more accurate but results take 24 to 48 hours.
For both tests, your healthcare provider will use a tongue depressor to hold down your tongue and then take a sample from the back of your throat and tonsils.
SLIDESHOW Sore Throat or Strep Throat? How to Tell the Difference See Slideshow
Treatments for strep throat
Healthcare providers treat strep throat with antibiotics. After taking antibiotics for 48 hours, you should start feeling better. There are also some strep throat treatments you can try at home to help soothe symptoms.
Strep throat treatment may include the following:
Medicine for strep throat
If the strep test is positive, antibiotics such as amoxicillin and penicillin are usually prescribed. Other antibiotics for strep throat may be tried if there is a penicillin allergy. The symptoms often go away within a few days of taking antibiotics, but you should finish the full course of antibiotics as prescribed, otherwise, the symptoms may return.
Home care for strep throat
If you have strep throat, stay home until you no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours.
It's important to practice good hygiene to stop strep throat from spreading, such as:
- Washing your hands often
- Covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
- Not sharing food, dishes, drinking glasses, or utensils and washing them in hot soapy water or a dishwasher after each use
How can I relieve my strep throat fast?
There are some things you can do at home to help soothe your throat faster, such as:
- Drink lots of fluids. Warm liquids such as tea with honey can make your throat feel better. Sucking on ice pops can help too. Don't drink acidic drinks like orange juice or lemonade as that will irritate the throat more.
- Eat soft foods that are easy to swallow like soup, mashed potatoes, and yogurt.
- Try an over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
- Aspirin should not be given to children unless prescribed by a doctor due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious disorder.
- Over-the-counter throat lozenges or anesthetic throat sprays can help soothe throat pain.
- Lozenges shouldn't be given to young children because they might choke on them.
- A natural method of soothing a sore throat is gargling with warm salt water. Mix about 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup (240ml) of water.
- Use a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer to add moisture to the air.
- Get lots of rest.
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Should I take antibiotics for strep throat?
Most sore throats get better (cold or viral flu) in a week to 10 days. Doctors do not normally prescribe antibiotics for viral sore throats because they will not help relieve your symptoms or speed up the recovery process.
Your doctor may advise and prescribe antibiotics for you when:
- They diagnose you with a bacterial infection or after your throat examination and throat swab test.
- You have pus formation in the tonsils.
You must complete the course of medication if your doctor has advised you to take an antibiotic for strep throat. This will avoid further complications such as the recurrence of an infection and the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
Avoid taking antibiotics without a doctor's prescription/advice.
Side effects of strep throat treatment
Strep throat treatment may involve the use of antibiotics, which typically have low to mild side effects that go away once the course of medication is completed.
Mild side effects of strep throat treatment may include:
- Stomachache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Talk to your doctor about taking probiotics while taking an antibiotic to help reduce the side effects of diarrhea
- Dizziness
Seek immediate medical care if you experience the following as a result of your strep throat treatment:
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- Feeling faint or passing out
- Rapid heart rate
- Rash
- Swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat
Complications of strep throat
If left untreated, strep throat bacteria may spread to other parts of the body and lead to complications, such as:
- Scarlatina or scarlet fever is a red skin rash that feels like sandpaper. The rash fades in about 7 days and the skin may peel.
- A rare kidney disease called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis may occur, which is the result of your body's immune system trying to fight off the group A strep bacteria. Among its symptoms are dark reddish-brown urine and swelling in the face, hands, and feet.
- Small scaly teardrop-shaped spots that suddenly appear on the middle of the body and limbs called guttate psoriasis may occur. The spots may be itchy but aren't contagious. Usually, mild cases can be treated at home, but they may be severe in those with weakened immune systems.
- Pus can collect behind the tonsils. This is known as tonsillar abscess. This happens when the bacteria spread to the surrounding tissues.
- Rheumatic fever is a rare complication that can cause severe illness in the heart, brain, joints, and skin. It typically develops about 14 to 28 days after strep throat and can result in permanent damage to the heart valves.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about strep throat treatment
How to get rid of strep throat overnight
You cannot get rid of strep throat overnight, but you can help soothe a sore throat and shorten the duration of suffering with the following tips:
- Gargle with warm salty water three times (except for children) to relieve discomfort and pain.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Get adequate rest.
- Eat cool and soft food to ease swallowing.
- Avoid smoking or smoky places.
- Use over-the-counter medicated lozenges or a throat spray (do not give lozenges to children due to a choking risk).
- Use medicines to reduce your fever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Avoid using these medications in children without consulting your child's pediatrician.
- Aspirin should not be given to children unless prescribed by a doctor due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious disorder.
Can strep throat go away on its own?
Strep throat can go away on its own. The immune system should eventually fight off the bacterial infection that causes strep throat. In some cases, however, such as in young children or immunocompromised individuals, strep throat treatment may involve the use of antibiotics to prevent complications.
Can you get rid of strep throat without antibiotics?
Since strep throat is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are the only way to cure it and prevent complications. In mild cases, however, doctors may not prescribe antibiotics for strep throat because exposure to too many antibiotics may lead to superbugs, which are antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Therefore, many healthcare providers reserve antibiotics for severe cases of strep throat.
Can strep throat be cured over the counter?
Besides antibiotics, there are no other drugs that can cure strep throat. You can use over-the-counter strep throat relief, such as pain relievers and throat spray or lozenges, to reduce pain and ease symptoms.
How long does strep throat last with antibiotics?
When using antibiotics for strep throat, most symptoms typically improve within 2 to 3 days, but you should always follow your doctor's instructions and take the complete course of antibiotics, even if you feel better.
How long does strep throat last without antibiotics
In most cases, strep throat typically lasts 3 to 5 days; however, without any strep throat treatment, symptoms may last up to 10 days.
What can I drink for strep throat?
It is important to stay hydrated when you have strep throat. Consuming warm liquids, like warm water with honey or tea, or cold liquids, like ice water or smoothies, can help soothe your sore throat. Avoid acidic drinks like orange juice or lemonade, as those can further irritate your throat.
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Medically Reviewed on 12/23/2024
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis: All You Need to Know."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Rheumatic Fever: All You Need to Know."
Centers for Disease Control: "Scarlet Fever: All You Need to Know."
Medline Plus: "Guttate psoriasis."
Medline Plus: "Strep A Test."
Medline Plus: "Strep throat."
Merck Manuals: "Tonsillar Cellulitis and Tonsillar Abscess."
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: "Group A Streptococcal Infections."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Strep Throat: All You Need to Know
https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.html
National Library of Medicine. Strep throat
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000639.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/php/surveillance/index.html
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/reyes-syndrome