Who Can Get It
Strep throat is more common among children aged 5 to 15, but can affect people of all ages. Its 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. Youre also at higher risk for strep throat if you have close contact with a person with strep throat as it’s highly contagious.
Symptoms Of Sore Throat
A sore throat can make it painful to swallow. A sore throat can also feel dry and scratchy. Sore throat can be a symptom of strep throat, the common cold, allergies, or other upper respiratory tract illness.
The following symptoms suggest a virus is the cause of the illness instead of the bacteria called group A strep:
- Cough
- Joint swelling and pain
- Rash
This list is not all-inclusive. Please see your doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.
Follow up with a doctor if symptoms do not improve within a few days, get worse, or if you or your child have recurrent sore throats.
What Are The Risks Of Taking Antibiotics For Sore Throat
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 don’t 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.
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Management Of Recurrent Gabhs Pharyngitis
RADT is effective for diagnosing recurrent GABHS infection. In patients treated within the preceding 28 days, RADT has similar specificity and higher sensitivity than in patients without previous streptococcal infection .38 Recurrence of GABHS pharyngitis within one month may be treated using the antibiotics listed in Table 3.2,1720,2834 Intramuscular penicillin G injection is an option when oral antibiotics were initially prescribed.
What Type Of Antibiotic You Use For Strep Throat
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Living With Strep Throat
Strep throat is an infection that typically comes and goes, especially when youre younger. If you have recurring strep throat, it could be that someone in your family is a carrier of strep. Carriers have the strep bacteria in their throats, but it does not make them sick. Treating carriers can help prevent the spread of strep.
What Is The Best Home Remedy For Strep Throat
While there is no known cure for strep throat with home remedies, there are ways to treat the symptoms of sore throat. Some options to help alleviate the symptoms of strep throat at home include:
- Drinking plenty of warm liquids, such as hot tea, soups, or broth. This will alleviate some of the irritation of the sore throat and keep you hydrated. Adding honey, peppermint, licorice root, or ginger to your tea can also help soothe your throat.
- Eating something cold, like a popsicle, or sucking on hard candy or lozenges can also help relieve some of the throat soreness.
- Gargling with warm salt water may reduce swelling and irritation in the throat. Mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of warm water and gargle . This can be done every hour for relief.
- Getting plenty of rest to help your body fight the infection.
- Avoiding acidic foods that may irritate your throat, such as citrus fruits or tomatoes.
- Taking over-the-counter medications and pain relievers, such as Tylenol, Motrin, Aleve, or Advil may be used to help reduce fever and pain associated with strep throat.
- Running a humidifier can help keep mucous membranes moist and decrease some of the irritation caused by a strep throat infection.
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What Can Antibiotics Do
As you know, most bacteria tend to live in your body, which is supposed to quite harmless. A few of them come in handy, but the risky bacteria are likely to infect nearly every organ, which makes these antibiotics completely useless. In case you have no idea what were saying, here are the common infections that are treated effectively with antibiotics:
- Ear and sinus infections
- Skin infections
- Urinary infections
- Bladder infections
Well, theyre not only the best antibiotic for strep throat in adults, but theyre also used to treat other health symptoms as above. Are you still confused? Consult your health specialist or doctor for more precise information.
What Causes A Sore Throat
The medical term for a sore throat is pharyngitis. Pharyngitis can be caused by germs like viruses and bacteria. Viruses like the ones that cause the common cold are the most common cause of sore throat.
Some of these viruses include:
-
Throat injury
-
Vocal strain from singing or yelling too much
Antibiotics wont help with most of these causes. In fact, they only help when sore throats are caused by bacteria. Taking antibiotics for a sore throat that isnt caused by bacteria wont help you feel better. Taking unnecessary antibiotics also puts you at risk for side effects related to antibiotics and contributes to antibiotic resistance.
Several bacteria cause pharyngitis. But group A streptococcus is the most common, and its the most significant bacterial cause of sore throat. A sore throat from group A streptococcus is commonly called strep throat. People who have strep throat need to take antibiotics to prevent complications from group A strep infection. Strep throat is usually treated with the antibiotic amoxicillin.
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How To Use Cefixime Oral
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once a day. In children, this medication may also be taken twice a day . If you are taking the chewable tablets, chew thoroughly and then swallow.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. In children, the dosage is also based on weight.
For the best effect, take this antibiotic at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.
Continue to use this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a relapse of the infection.
Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
What Is Strep Throat
Strep throat is a type of bacterial infection that can make your throat feel painful, sore, and scratchy. Strep throat infections are caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A Streptococcus.
The most common symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sore, scratchy throat
- Tender, swollen lymph nodes around the neck
- Tiny red spots toward the back of the roof of the mouth
While strep throat is more common in children, it can affect people of all ages. If you or your child experiences any of the signs of symptoms of strep throat, its essential to see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
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What Cant Antibiotics Do
Remember that only bacterial infections can be cured with antibiotics, which means that antibiotics dont bring into play when dealing with common virus-caused diseases .
So, youd better ask the doctor. He/she will let you know that its necessary to prescribe other antiviral medicines so that your illness can be removed completely. For HOW LONG DOES STREP THROAT LAST WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS, you might want to check out this post.
Is Strep A Std
Group B strep bacteria arent sexually transmitted, and theyre not spread through food or water. How the bacteria are spread to anyone other than newborns isnt known. Group B strep can spread to a baby during a vaginal delivery if the baby is exposed to or swallows fluids containing group B strep.
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How Long Is Strep 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 dont get treated. Antibiotics can prevent the infection from spreading. People who take antibiotics stop being contagious after about 24 hours.
Other Sore Throats Don’t Need Special Medicine So Why Does Strep Throat
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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Best Antibiotics For Strep Throat
Dr. Umer Khan
Dr. Umer Khan
Medically reviewed by Dr Umer Khan, MD who is a Board Certified physician practicing in Pennsylvania. His special interests include wellness, longevity and medical IT.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can lead to throat pain, painful swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes around the neck. While strep throat is typically treated with a combination of at-home treatment and medication, antibiotics are the best way to get rid of strep throat.
If youre worried that you or your child may have strep throat, its important to know which antibiotics are going to help you start feeling better. Read on to learn which strep throat antibiotics your doctor may prescribe to effectively manage your symptoms.
Can I Get Rid Of Strep Throat Without Antibiotics
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.
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Watch For These Strep Throat Symptoms
While a sore throat is the signature symptom associated with strep throat, there are often accompanying symptoms as well. This mild infection might cause other symptoms such as:
- Fast onset sore throat
- Vomiting or nausea
- Loss of appetite
Keep in mind that viral infections can also cause similar symptoms. If your child has a sore throat with any of the following symptoms, then it probably isnt strep throat:
- Pink eye
- Runny nose
- Coughing
Just because its a viral infection doesnt mean that there cant be a secondary bacterial infection as well. So if you wonder whether your child has strep throat, then it might be time to visit a doctor for a rapid strep test and official diagnosis.
How Contagious Is Strep Throat
The truth is that strep is highly contagious. It can spread from child-to-child, and child-to-parent.
The bacteria that causes strep throat is very contagious and can pass from one person to the next. Group A step lives in the throat and nose and can be spread through sneezing or coughing that leaves respiratory droplets in the air.
Your child can get sick with strep throat through various types of exposure:
- Being in close proximity with someone with this infection and breathing the droplets in the air
- Touching an object contaminated with infected respiratory droplets, then touching their nose or mouth
- Sharing food or drink with someone else who has strep
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Some Antibiotics Your Doctor Might Prescribe For Strep Include:
- Penicillin Unless youre allergic, penicillin is the best antibiotic for sore throat infection. The most common side effects of penicillin include nausea and vomiting.
- Amoxicillin A broad-spectrum form of penicillin, amoxicillin, may be more effective and convenient for some patients. A single daily dose of amoxicillin may be just as effective as multiple doses of penicillin taken in a day. However, amoxicillin can more commonly cause skin rash and gastrointestinal problems.
- Amoxicillin Clavulanate Potassium Amoxycillin clavulanate potassium is more frequently used to treat recurring cases of strep throat. Marketed as, amoxicillin clavulanate potassium is resistant to degradation or damage caused by waste products, such as beta-lactamase created by Streptococcus. The main side effect of amoxicillin clavulanate potassium is diarrhea.
- Azithromycin Azithromycin is best used for those who are allergic penicillin or have tried penicillin with no results.
- Clarithromycin Clarithromycin goes by the brand name Biaxin and may act as a good alternative for those with penicillin allergies.
- Clindamycin Clindamycin is effective for those who are allergic to penicillin or have a case of strep throat that is resistant to penicillin.
- Cefdiner Branded as Omnicef, research suggests that a 5-day course of cefdinir treatment is equal to a 10-day regimen with penicillin.
Are The Sore Throats Actually Caused By Strep
Many physicians diagnose strep throat infections based on a patient’s history and an examination. However, without the aid of a throat culture or a rapid strep detection test, recurrent strep throat infections are difficult to accurately diagnosis. The complaint of a sore throat is frequent in the primary care practice setting. Yet, at the peak of the strep throat infection season , strep is the cause of a sore throat in less than 30% of children and 10% of teenagers.
Therefore, strictly on a percentage basis, physicians, who diagnose strep in the majority of patients with a sore throat, over-diagnose 90% of teenagers and 70% of children. Even in a patient with typical symptoms-a fever, a red throat with yellow pus on the tonsils, swollen and tender neck lymph glands, and the absence of a runny nose and a cough-misdiagnosis is common. In one study, an overestimate of the probability of a positive strep culture was observed for 81% of the patients.
To accurately diagnose strep throat infections, physicians use throat cultures or rapid strep detection tests. Rapid strep detection tests improve the accuracy of diagnosing strep throat infections. The accuracy of rapid strep detection tests varies between products, but the main variable is in the carefulness of performing the test. The critical factor is attention to detail and strictly following the manufacturers’ guidelines for the test.
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Table 1. |
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What Is Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is the name given to a bright red rash that develops following a Strep throat, although it can also develop following school sores .
Scarlet fever is less common than it was one hundred years ago because of antibiotic use and it only occurs in those who are susceptible to the toxins produced by the Streptococcal bacteria. It mostly occurs in children aged 4 to 8 years. By 10 years old more than 80% of children have developed lifelong protective antibodies against streptococcal toxins, whilst infants younger than 2 still have antibodies against the toxin that they acquired from their mother. This means that if two children in one family develop Strep throat, only one may develop scarlet fever.
Scarlet fever is a bright red rash that feels like sandpaper to the touch. The rash typically starts on the neck, underarm, or groin as small, flat red blotches that gradually become fine bumps and feel rough to the touch. In the body folds the rash may appear a brighter red . Facial flushing is common although a pale area may remain around the mouth. After seven days, the rash fades and some skin peeling may occur over the next month or longer, particularly around the fingertips, toes, and groin area.
Left untreated, Scarlet fever may progress to:
- Ear, sinus, and skin infections
- Joint inflammation
- Rheumatic fever
- Otitis media
- Glomerulonephritis
- Osteomyelitis.
Did The Patient Finish The Prescribed Antibiotic
Patients often do not finish the complete treatment of antibiotics. The symptoms of strep throat end quickly with antibiotics patients feel completely better within two to three days after beginning treatment. Because of this improved well being, parent motivation to continue the medicine diminishes.
Studies from hospital-based clinics and private practices have confirmed that as many as 50% of patients have stopped taking penicillin for strep throat by the third day, 70% by the sixth day, and over 80% by the ninth day. In the same populations, over 80% of the families claimed that all of the prescribed medicine had been taken.
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Strep Throat Treatment Options
If your strep test comes back positive, your healthcare provider will most likely prescribe an antibiotic treatment. Once treatment starts, you should feel improvement within a day or two. It is very important to finish your antibiotics even if you feel better because strep throat can cause serious complications, such as rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis , or turn into other serious infections within the streptococcal infection group, such as scarlet fever or impetigo. To manage the symptoms of strep throat there are over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain, and at-home remedies like drinking plenty of water.
