Suspect Strep Throat Call The Doctor
If your child begins to show the symptoms of strep throat, youll need to call the doctor and make an appointment for a sick visit. Strep throat will not resolve on its own and can cause complications if left untreated. When caught early, strep throat is usually easier to manage, and the infection is short-lived. This means less downtime for your child and less time out of school or daycare.
At Penguin Pediatrics, we see many cases of strep throat every year, especially during cold and flu season. We will perform a strep throat test, or a throat swab, to determine if streptococcal bacteria are the cause of your childs illness. If the test is positive, our physicians will prescribe antibiotics and discuss home care routines to help your child feel better. If your child has any medication allergies or has had reactions to certain antibiotics in the past, be sure to let your doctor know so the correct antibiotic can be given.
Request an appointment online or call us at 253-6421 or 253-6842 . We look forward to helping your children get back on their feet!
You Might Also Enjoy…
How Long Is Strep Throat Contagious After Taking Antibiotics
The obvious strep throat treatment is administration of antibiotics. However, this bacterial infection remains contagious even after resorting to antibacterial therapy. Here is some info on the duration for which strep throat remains contagious even after taking antibiotics.
The obvious strep throat treatment is administration of antibiotics. However, this bacterial infection remains contagious even after resorting to antibacterial therapy. Here is some info on the duration for which strep throat remains contagious even after taking antibiotics.
Strep throat is an infection of the throat region and tonsils characterized by itchiness and soreness. The name itself suggests that the causal pathogen is Streptococcus bacteria. There are several strains of Group A Streptococcus bacteria, which are capable of causing this throat infection. In healthy people, they are present in the nasal passages and throat area without causing any infection. Under certain conditions, they multiply rapidly and result in strep throat symptoms. Some strains are more virulent than others and result in severe illnesses.
Rash With Strep Throat
Strep throat typically causes a sore, scratchy throat. Some people may also develop a skin rash. Other symptoms of strep throat can include: chills .Protect Yourself and Others. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you dont have a tissue. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use .Some symptoms of strep throat include a headache, sore throat, high fever, swollen glands and infected tonsils. A strep rash looks like a bad sunburn with little red bumps. These bumps can start on the chest and then develop into a groin rash, underarm rash, and into a rash on the legs. See also How To Get Rid Of Scrotum Rash.
Read Also: Antibiotics For Dog Ear Infection
Read Also: Oral Antibiotics For Eyelid Infections
What Is Strep Throat
Strep throat is the result of a bacterial infection that causes pain and inflammation in the pharynx.
While this is a fairly common infection among all age groups, children between the age groups of five and 15 are more prone to this.
Sometimes, pharyngitis is also accompanied by fever.
Now that we know what strep throat is, let us find out Is strep throat contagious?
Contagiousness Of Strep Throat Post The Administration Of Antibiotics
Strep throat treatment with the help of antibacterial therapy is effectual in reducing the dangers of medical complications, especially in patients having a compromised immune system. There is no doubt in the intervention approach. But, the prime concern is that the bacteria are transmittable from an infected person to another even after starting the antibiotic treatment.
According to health experts, strep bacteria are not transmittable for 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics is taken. However, there are certain considerations for accepting this disease containment rule.
The first is selecting the prescribed antibiotic, and second is taking the correct dosage as recommended by the doctor. Antibiotic dosage varies based on the age of the patient, medication type, patients response to antibiotics, and other aspects.
In case the two criteria are not fulfilled, there is a high chance of the bacteria spreading from an infected patient to the others.
Thus, to be on the safer side, a healthy individual should maintain a safe distance from the infected person, even if he/she has started an antibiotic course. Strep throat is contagious for 5 or as long as 10 days without antibiotic treatment. Precisely, antibacterial therapy is effectual in reducing the rate of transmission, shortening the length of the disease episode by about 16 hours, combating symptoms, and minimizing complications.
You May Like: How To Clear Chest Infection Without Antibiotics
When To Call The Doctor Or Health Care Provider
- Develop a rash or diarrhea.
- Have a sore throat that lasts more than 3 days.
- Cant eat, drink, or show signs of dehydration .
- Do not pee for 6 or more hours. Urine is very dark.
- Have a dry, sticky mouth.
- Have no energy or are hard to wake up.
HH-I-122 11/89, Revised 5/22 Copyright 1989, Nationwide Childrens Hospital
Should I Stay Off Work With Strep Throat
People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they no longer have a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours. This will help prevent spreading it to others. Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of germs that cause strep throat and other infections.
Read Also: Antibiotics For Bv While On Period
Young Children Are At Increased Risk
Anyone can get impetigo, but some factors increase someones risk of getting this infection.
- Age: Impetigo is most common in children 2 through 5 years old.
- Infections or injuries that break the skin: People with scabies infection are at increased risk for impetigo. Participating in activities where cuts or scrapes are common can also increase someones risk of impetigo.
- Close contact or crowding: Close contact with another person with impetigo is the most common risk factor for illness. For example, if someone has impetigo, it often spreads to other people in their household. Infectious illnesses also tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Crowded conditions such as those in schools and daycare centers can increase the spread of impetigo.
- Climate: Impetigo is more common in areas with hot, humid summers and mild winters , or wet and dry seasons , but it can occur anywhere.
- Poor personal hygiene: Lack of proper handwashing, body washing, and facial cleanliness can increase someones risk of getting impetigo.
Learn about scabies.
Can Strep Throat Be Prevented
The following suggestions may help you prevent the spread of your strep infection to others:
- Avoid close contact with other people until you have been taking the antibiotic for at least 24 hours and you feel well.
- Use tissues when you cough and dispose of them carefully.
- Hand washing is the best method of prevention. Wash your hands before you touch food, dishes, glasses, silverware, napkins, etc.
- Wash your hands after you cough and before you touch certain things, like food, dishes, glasses, silverware or napkins.
- Use paper cups, or separate cups, and paper towels in bathrooms instead of shared drinking cups and hand towels.
- Do not share food and eating utensils with others.
- Do not prepare food for others if you have strep throat.
People with strep throat should not go to childcare, preschool, school or work until they are no longer contagious.
Also Check: Does A Probiotic Cancel Out An Antibiotic
How Long After Starting Antibiotics Is Strep Throat Contagious
When you get infected, you typically start to show symptoms about 2 to 5 days after you were exposed to the bacteria. You can stay contagious for up to a month if you don’t get treated. Antibiotics can prevent the infection from spreading. People who take antibiotics stop being contagious after about 24 hours.S
How Long Does Strep Throat Last
Strep throat is a common bacterial infection that causes a severe sore throat.
It gets its name because the disease is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes, also called group A streptococcus.
Cases of strep throat come on suddenly, and can be really unpleasantso its natural to wonder how long it will last.
Theres not one single answer: Every persons recovery depends on many factors, including age, other health conditions, and how quickly you get treated.
In this article, Ill answer your questions about how long strep throat lasts, and how its symptoms and causes differ from other sore throats. Ill also explain how strep throat is treated, and when you should talk to your doctor.
Read Also: How Can I Treat A Uti While Pregnant Without Antibiotics
How Well Do Antibiotics Work To Treat A Sore Throat
Antibiotics dont work at all for a sore throat caused by a virus. These kinds of sore throats usually go away on their own in 4 to 5 days.
If you have strep throatwhich is caused by bacteriayour doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, such as penicillin. But strep throat goes away on its own in 3 to 7 days with or without antibiotics.
Antibiotics may not make you well faster. But they may shorten the time you are able to spread strep throat to others by a day or so.
Antibiotics may also lower the risk of a bacterial infection spreading to other parts of your body, such as your ears and sinuses. They can also prevent serious but rare problems such as rheumatic fever in children.
Antibiotics may cause side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and skin rashes.
Besides side effects, there are other good reasons not to use antibiotics unless you really need them.
- Antibiotics cost money.
- You will probably have to see the doctor to get a prescription. This costs you time.
- If you take antibiotics when you dont need them, they may not work when you do need them. Each time you take antibiotics, you are more likely to carry some bacteria that were not killed by the medicine. Over time, these bacteria get tougher and can cause longer and more serious infections. To treat them, you may need different, stronger, and more costly antibiotics.
How Long Is A Person Contagious With C Diff
You will no longer be considered infectious when the diarrhoea has calmed for at least 48 hours. At this point, you should stop taking antibiotics, as doing so could lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
If not treated, C. difficile infection can result in death. The best course of action if you are diagnosed with CDI is to seek treatment immediately. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill the C. difficile bacteria within your body. In addition, there are other treatments that may be used alone or in combination with antibiotics including metronidazole and vancomycin. There is also a vaccine available that protects against CDI however, it is only recommended for people who are at high risk for developing the disease.
In conclusion, symptoms of C. diff should prompt someone to contact their doctor. It is important to get tested for CDI as soon as possible so appropriate treatment can be given.
You May Like: Side Effects Of Bv Antibiotics
Doctors Can Test For And Treat Scarlet Fever
Many viruses and bacteria can cause an illness that includes a red rash and sore throat. Only a rapid strep test or a throat culture can determine if group A strep are the cause.
A rapid strep test involves swabbing the throat and testing the swab. The test quickly shows if group A strep are causing the illness. If the test is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics. If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects scarlet fever, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab. A throat culture takes time to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. While it takes more time, a throat culture sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test misses. Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated scarlet fever infection. For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever following scarlet fever.
Can Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease Be Treated
Group A streptococcus bacteria can be treated with common, inexpensive antibiotics. Penicillin is the drug of choice for both mild and severe disease. For penicillin-allergic patients with mild illness, erythromycin can be used, although occasional resistance has been seen. Clindamycin may be used to treat penicillin-allergic patients with more severe illness and can be added to the treatment in cases of necrotizing fasciitis or STSS. Certain other antibiotics also are effective. In addition to antibiotics, supportive care in an intensive care unit and sometimes surgery are necessary with these diseases. Early treatment may reduce the risk of death although, unfortunately, even appropriate therapy does not prevent death in every case.
Recommended Reading: Can You Fix Uti Without Antibiotics
What Are The Symptoms Of Strep Throat
The primary symptom of strep throat is a sore, scratchy throat. However, this is typically not mild in nature. Most strep throat pain is severe. The illness is almost always accompanied by a high fever, and it can also result in body aches, headaches, or nausea and vomiting. Nausea is more common in children than adults who contract the illness. Strep throat is also indicated by swollen lymph nodes in the neck and red or white patches on the back of the throat or tonsils.
Is Strep Throat Contagious
Strep throat can be contagious for about 2-3 weeks in individuals who are not taking antibiotics. However, individuals who do take antibiotics for strep throat usually are no longer contagious about 24- 48 hours after initiating antibiotic therapy. The bacteria that cause strep throat can be transmitted person-to-person by direct contact, especially from mucus droplets from the mouth and indirect contact, such as kissing and sharing utensils or drinking cups.
You May Like: Best Antibiotic For Resistant Uti
How Long Is The Incubation Period For Strep
After youve come in contact with group A Streptococcus, the bacteria that cause strep throat, it usually takes two to five days before you feel ill. You may not even know you were exposed to the illness. Thats because people who are infected with group A strep may not have symptoms.You are most contagious when you have a fever over 100.4 but can be contagious to others for 48-hours before the symptoms begin.
If you have strep throat, you can spread it to others until you have been taking antibiotic treatment for one to three days. Children with strep throat shouldnt return to school or day care until they no longer have a fever and have been taking antibiotic treatment for 24 hours.
When To See A Healthcare Provider
Its important to see a healthcare provider as soon as you feel symptoms of strep throat to determine whether antibiotics are needed. The healthcare provider can do a rapid strep test, get the results, and then prescribe the antibiotics.
If the test is negative but the healthcare provider still thinks its strep, a throat culture may be taken by swabbing the throat. The results will take time to get back. This is more often done for children and teens since untreated strep in these groups can lead to rheumatic fever.
The risk of rheumatic fever is less for adults, so they usually will not have a throat culture if the rapid test is negative.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take For Antibiotics To Help Uti
How Common Is Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease
Approximately 9,000-11,500 cases of invasive GAS disease occur in the United States each year resulting in 1,000-1,800 deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that less than 10% of these are cases of necrotizing fasciitis and STSS. In contrast, there are several million cases of strep throat and impetigo annually. Clusters of cases or outbreaks of invasive GAS have not been reported in any schools or communities in New York State.
Strep Throat When Pregnant
If you think you may have strep throat during your pregnancy, see your doctor right away to discuss treatment options.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and will carefully monitor your medications. Get a better understanding of how to treat strep throat when youre pregnant.
The bacteria that causes strep throat, group A streptococcus, is not the same as group B streptococcus, which is found around the vagina or rectum. While group B streptococcus can be passed to a baby during delivery, its unrelated to the bacteria that causes strep throat.
Because strep throat is a bacterial infection, a doctor will typically prescribe an antibiotic to treat it. These medications inhibit the spread of bacteria and infections.
There are eight different antibiotics recommended by the to treat strep throat. They include:
- penicillin
- clarithromycin
- azithromycin
Penicillin and amoxicillin are the most common medications given for a strep infection. If youre allergic to penicillin or amoxicillin, your doctor may prescribe a different medication, like the antibiotic azithromycin. Find out more about azithromycin for treating strep throat.
The doctors choice of antibiotic can also depend on whether the strep bacteria in a particular geographic area have become resistant to certain antibiotics.
The notes the following benefits of antibiotics for strep throat:
Read Also: Get An Antibiotic Prescription Online
Don’t Miss: How Long To Cure A Uti With Antibiotics
