Thursday, March 28, 2024

Can Strep Throat Go Away Without An Antibiotic

What Is The Best Antibiotic For Throat Infection

How to get rid of Strep throat Quickly and Naturally without antibiotics

Also to know is, what antibiotics work for strep throat?

Penicillinamoxicillinpenicillincephalexinerythromycinazithromycin

What types of antibiotics are used to treat strep throat?

Stopping midway also increases the chances of promoting bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

  • Penicillin.

Here are seven quick sore throat remedies that you can whip up in no time, so that youll start feeling better as soon as possible.

  • Gargle With Warm Salt Water.
  • Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

My Daughters Experience With Untreated Strep Throat

Recently, my preteen daughter came down with strep. She is my youngest child, and this was the first time any of my three children had ever had strep throat.

Given that she is healthy with no underlying health issues, my husband and I decided to ride it out. We treated her with natural antibiotics only.

The result?

She recovered completely within 48 hours. In fact, the white spots on her throat disappeared in less than 12 hours once we started treatments. We used garlic, raw manuka honey, and turmeric several times a day.

It will be interesting to see if she ever gets strep throat again. My bet is that she wont. She will likely develop partial or total lifelong immunity just like I did when I recovered at age 15 from untreated strep.

How To Care For Your Child

There are thingsyou can do to help your child feel better.

  • Give them lots of liquids, like water, Pedialyte®, diluted apple juice, or popsicles. Give small amounts of liquid often .
  • Give soft foods that are easy to swallow, like applesauce, mashed potatoes, hot cereal, or eggs. Your child may not want to eat much if it hurts to swallow.
  • To soothe a sore throat, offer:
  • For children over age 1, give warm fluids like water, herbal tea with honey, or diluted apple juice. Do not give honey to children under age 1. For some children, cold fluids or popsicles can be soothing.
  • For children over age 4, give throat or cough lozenges or use throat sprays. Read the label to know the right dose for your child. Do not use throat sprays that contain benzocaine, as this could cause a drug reaction.
  • For children over age 6 who are able to gargle without swallowing, mix ½ teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Have them swish and gargle the mixture 2 to 3 times a day for the next few days. Do not let your child swallow the salt water have them spit it out.
  • For a fever or throat pain, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed. Read the label to know the right dose for your child. Do not give aspirin or products that contain aspirin.

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What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Strep Throat

Signs of strep throat include:

  • sore throat
  • red and swollen tonsils
  • painful or swollen neck glands

Not all sore throats are strep-infected throats. Often, kids have a sore throat because of a virus, which will usually clear up without medical treatment.

Kids who do have strep throat might get other symptoms within about 3 days, such as:

  • red and white patches in the throat
  • trouble swallowing
  • strep rash

What Causes Strep Throat

How To Cure Strep Throat Fast Without Antibiotic Sore Throat Cure

Strep throat is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, otherwise referred to as group A Streptococcus.

Group A strep is highly contagious and may easily be passed by coughing, sneezing, shared dishes or utensils and other close contacts.

You can also get strep throat by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is typically treated to prevent the complication of rheumatic fever, which can cause heart damage.

Use of antibiotics also may help symptoms go away about 1 day more quickly than they would on their own.

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My Experience With Untreated Strep Throat

My serious doubts about the wisdom of using antibiotics for strep throat go back to my one and only experience with this infection the summer I turned 15. Strep was by far the worst sore throat Ive ever had and the pain when I swallowed was almost unbearable to endure.

My Father, a Family Physician, made the decision not to put me on any antibiotics and let me ride it out under my own power. My Dad wasnt into herbs or anything so I didnt have any alternative treatments administered either.

The infection lasted over a week my memory remembers a full two weeks but it might have been a few days shy of that.

I lost several pounds during that illness as I could only endure swallowing liquids the entire time. I pretty much subsisted on vanilla milkshakes from the ice cream shop down the road for the duration of that awful infection and I still got well under my own power with no complications.

The interesting thing is thatI seem to have developed an immunity to strep ever since. Ive never had strep throat ever again in 35+ years. This is despite repeated exposures at close range. During college, I even had a roommate with strep and didnt get sick. This despite eating pretty rotten cafeteria food and lots of sugary foods. This no doubt suppressed my immune function considerably.

Is it possible that allowing the body to fight off strep throat naturally on its own confers partial or total immunity?

Why?

Treatments For Strep Throat In Kids

Strep throat can go away without antibiotics, especially in older children, but untreated strep throat puts the child at greater risk of more serious complications and increases the time the child is contagious.

Strep throat is typically treated with a 10-day course of antibiotics, usuallypenicillin oramoxicillin. Sometimes the provider will opt to treat the child with one shot of penicillin. If the child has an allergy to penicillin or amoxicillin, other antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, can be tried. It is important to take the entire course of antibiotics, even once symptoms are gone.

In addition to antibiotic treatment, some things that can help make the child feel better and promote healing include:

  • Administer over-the-counter medications, such as Advil,Motrin , orTylenol for pain relief and fever reduction. Do not give a child aspirin as this can result in a rare but serious condition calledReyes syndrome.
  • Encourage fluids to prevent dehydration.
  • Offer warm liquids, such as caffeine-free lemon tea, and adding honey .
  • Offer frozen ice treats such as popsicles, or throat lozenges for older children and teens. Avoid giving them to young children because they can choke on them.
  • Gargle with salt water for children who are over age 6 .
  • Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to help with dryness and soothe a sore throat. Always use cool-mist, never warm or hot.
  • Provide soft, easy to swallow foods for the child to eat.
  • Encourage the child to get lots of rest.

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Home Remedies For Strep Throat

Since strep throat takes 1-2 weeks to go away, even on antibiotics, some home remedies can help to reduce pain and make you more comfortable while you wait for your symptoms to improve.

Other home remedies that may be popular are not proven and could actually make things worse.

These eight remedies are safe to try.

Always ask your doctor or provider if you are not sure if a home remedy or over-the-counter treatment is right for your condition.

What Is A Strep Test

How To Cure Strep Throat Without Antibiotics

A strep test looks for Streptococcus bacteria in the throat. The test is painless and takes very little time. The tip of a cotton swab is used to wipe the back of the throat. The swab is then tested.

The rapid strep test takes approximately 20 minutes. If the test is positive , the patient has strep throat. If the test is negative , the doctor may send the throat swab to a laboratory to double-check the results. Some doctors may not do a rapid strep test and instead just send the throat swab to the laboratory.

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Antibiotics Get You Well Fast

Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Either penicillin or amoxicillin are recommended as a first choice for people who are not allergic to penicillin. Doctors can use other antibiotics to treat strep throat in people who are allergic to penicillin.

Benefits of antibiotics include:

  • Preventing the bacteria from spreading to others
  • Preventing serious complications like rheumatic fever

Someone who tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms usually does not need antibiotics. They are less likely to spread the bacteria to others and very unlikely to get complications. If a carrier gets a sore throat illness caused by a virus, the rapid strep test can be positive. In these cases, it can be hard to know what is causing the sore throat. If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection. Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier.

Can Other People Catch My Strep Throat

Yes. You can pass the strep infection to other people until you have been treated appropriately with an antibiotic. Children who have strep throat should not go back to school or day care until their fever has gone away and they have taken an antibiotic for at least 24 hours.

Here are more things you can do to prevent spreading strep throat:

  • Frequently wash your hands.
  • Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
  • Avoid sharing food utensils while you are sick.

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How Does Strep Throat Spread

Highly contagious, strep throat is spread through airborne droplets . Children can also get infected by touching surfaces that carry the bacteria and then touching their nose, mouth or eyes.

I often tell parents not to share anything in the house that goes in the mouth, says Dr. Flaherty-Hewitt, who is medical director of Yale New Haven Hospitals Pediatric Primary Care Center. Once they have been on antibiotics for 24 to 48 hours, they shouldnt be contagious. We also advise throwing out their toothbrush and washing their pillowcases or other such items after they have been on the antibiotics 24 to 48 hours.

As for prevention, practicing proper hand hygiene is key. Wash your hands and cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze, Dr. Flaherty-Hewitt advises.

Can An Online Doctor Treat Me For Strep Throat

A painful and inflamed throat is a good indication that you may have a ...

Yes! HealthTap is here to help.

Our online doctors can meet you via video consultation and evaluate you for strep throat, order tests*, offer medical advice, and write prescriptions that are sent electronically to your nearest pharmacy. HealthTap members can compare costs at the nearest five pharmacies and save up to 75% off the cost of their prescriptions. Additionally, if you schedule an appointment with a primary care physician in our Virtual Primary Care clinic, you can text with your doctor for free after your appointment to discuss any questions or clarifications you may have.

*You may need to travel to an in-person clinic if testing for strep is needed.

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What To Eat And Drink:

5. Raw Honey

A daily dose of raw honey raises levels of health-promoting antioxidants in the body. This helps to boost the immune system and is one of several soothing strep throat home remedies. According to research published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, honeys healing property is due to its antibacterial activity, ability to maintain a moist wound condition and its thick consistency that helps to create a protective barrier to prevent infection. Studies have found that medical grade honeys have strong bactericidal activity to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause several life-threatening infections in humans.

6. Bone Broth

Bone broth helps to keep you hydrated and it provides minerals that you need to boost your immune system. Its soothing and easy to eat when you are suffering from a sore throat or swollen tonsils due to strep throat. Bone broth contains minerals in forms that your body can easily absorb, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and sulphur. It also contains chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, the compounds sold as pricey supplements to reduce swelling and joint pain.

Instead of spending hours making bone broth from scratch, use protein powder made from bone broth to help you recover from strep throat quickly. Drink warm bone broth throughout the day.

7. Herbal Tea

8. Apple Cider Vinegar

The Truth Of Using Antibiotics For Strep Throat

As we have cited previously that more and more people are shifting to another way to treat strep throat, instead of antibiotics. If it is true, why antibiotics are supposed to be the fastest method for strep throat to recover, it is causing doubts about its necessity. Then, a question has been raised Are antibiotics necessary?

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Is This Your Childs Symptom

  • Your child was diagnosed with a Strep throat infection
  • A doctor has told you your child probably has Strep throat or
  • Your child has a positive Strep test
  • Your child is taking an antibiotic for Strep throat and you have questions
  • You are worried that the fever or sore throat is not getting better fast enough

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What Is Strep Throat

The dangers of strep throat going undiagnosed and untreated

Strep throat is a type of throat infection caused by the bacteria called group A streptococcus. This bacteria lives in the nose and throat and may not cause symptoms in every person. Despite the absence of symptoms, the infected person can still spread the infection to others when they cough or sneeze.

When the infected person sneezes or coughs, small droplets are generated that contain the bacteria. The infection spreads to others when they:

  • Inhale the infected droplets
  • Touch surfaces contaminated by the droplets and then touch their mouth or nose
  • Eat improperly handled food contaminated by the bacteria
  • Touch the skin rashes of the infected person

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Developing Strep Throat Immunity

The reason is that folks who take antibiotics for strep throat seem to get it over and over and over again. Sometimes they get strep throat again within mere days or weeks from the previous infection. Have you noticed this vicious cycle too?

Wouldnt it be a far better and healthier approach to fight it off one time and be done with it possibly for the rest of your life?

My retired MD Dad is of the philosophy that if you give the body a crutch every time it gets ill, it will always expect and demand that crutch. This results in immunity getting weaker over time. I have witnessed the truth of this philosophy through observation. Those who have the tendency to over-medicate their illnesses whether it be with antibiotics or even natural remedies can unwittingly experience a downside.

Attempting to squelch illness at the first sign of a sniffle, for example, is not a wise approach in my opinion even if nontoxic.

The immune system stays strong when it is allowed to fight and defeat an illness with no interference. Ideally, rest and nourishment only should be provided.

Now, I do think that much consideration needs to be given to the health of the individual before forgoing the meds. A child with autoimmune issues who is not eating well in the first place probably should just take the antibiotics.

On the other hand, a robust healthy child with no autoimmune illness who is consuming an excellent diet has a superb chance of handling the infection well with no intervention.

How Long Does Strep Throat Last Without Antibiotics

Using antibiotics as a medical treatment for strep throat has become more and more common. However, there has been a lot of worries about how long does strep throat last without antibiotics? because people often think that antibiotics are one of the best treatment to reduce the symptoms as well as minimize the risk of its complications.

Strep throat occurs mostly in children aged from five to fifteen. And recently most parents are often making their great attempt to lessen the use of antibiotics in treating strep throat. The reason is that though antibiotics can diminish the risk of complications and make the body improve quicker, using it may exert unexpected health issues and lead to an increase in the susceptibility to bacteria and infection.

Then, almost all parents consider how long does strep throat last without antibiotics? Maybe, most of us havent received any adequate answers for this long-debated issue. Here, let us bring this matter come to light and you may know than you expected.

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What Is A Sore Throat

Sore throats can be painful and annoying. But most of the time they go away on their own. It may take a few days or up to a week, depending on the cause.

Most sore throats are caused by a virus, such as a cold. A bacterial infection can also cause a sore throat.

If you have a sudden, severe sore throat without coughing, sneezing, or other cold symptoms, you could have strep throat. Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils. About 1 out of 10 sore throats in adults is caused by strep throat. This means that 9 out of 10 sore throats aren’t strep.

Other Sore Throats Don’t Need Special Medicine So Why Does Strep Throat

~Autumn Evelyn: How to Cure Strep Throat! Without Antibiotics

Most sore throats are caused by viruses, which cannot be cured with medicine you can only relieve the aches and pains. Viruses heal on their own and cannot be cured with antibiotics or other medicines.

Strep throat is caused by a bacterium. Infections caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. Strep throat can lead to more serious illnesses, so it’s important to get it treated.

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