How South Tampa Immediate Care Diagnoses and Treats Strep Throat
Strep throat is a common bacterial infection that causes a sore, scratchy throat and discomfort when swallowing. The infection is highly contagious and easily spread through respiratory droplets that become airborne whenever an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. It can also be transmitted through shared eating utensils. Although strep can affect people of all ages, it is especially common among school-age children, mainly because they are often in close contact with each other in classrooms and on playgrounds.
Unlike a typical sore throat caused by a virus, strep throat usually requires medical treatment with antibiotics to clear the infection and keep it from progressing. At South Tampa Immediate Care, our experienced providers offer quick and accurate diagnostic testing and effective treatment for strep throat to help our patients recover quickly and get back to feeling their best.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Strep Throat
While a sore throat is common with many illnesses, strep throat often causes several distinct symptoms. The hallmark sign is severe throat pain that develops suddenly, making it difficult to swallow food and beverages. Other tell-tale symptoms of strep throat include:
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Fever and chills
- Headache and body aches
- Swollen tonsils, sometimes streaked with red or white patches
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Loss of appetite, nausea, and stomachache (more common in children)
Unlike a viral infection, such as the common cold or flu, strep throat typically does not cause a runny nose, vocal hoarseness, coughing, or other respiratory symptoms. If you think you might have strep throat, it is important to see a physician who can provide an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment if needed.
Diagnosing Strep Throat
At South Tampa Immediate Care, we can perform rapid strep testing to quickly determine whether your sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection. During your visit, a provider will gently swab the back of your throat and tonsils to collect a secretion sample. In our on-site clinical lab, we can immediately complete the rapid strep test, which can detect group A streptococcal bacteria, the most common cause of strep throat. The results are typically available in minutes, which will allow us to get you started on treatment right away if needed.
If the rapid strep test produces a negative result but we still suspect strep throat, we may order a throat culture. While this more sensitive test takes longer to process, it will provide a more detailed analysis to help us rule out or confirm the presence of strep bacteria.
Treating Strep Throat
If we confirm that you have strep throat, we may prescribe an antibiotic, such as penicillin or amoxicillin, to resolve the infection. If so, you should take this medication exactly as instructed and finish the entire course, even if you quickly feel better (this is common because antibiotics are highly effective). Taking antibiotics as prescribed is important to:
- Reduce the duration and severity of your symptoms
- Prevent potentially serious strep complications, such as rheumatic fever and kidney inflammation
- Avoid spreading the infection to others
- Lower the risk of antibiotic resistance
At-Home Care to Relieve Strep Throat Symptoms
In addition to taking antibiotics (if prescribed), you can ease your discomfort and speed up your recovery by:
- Drinking plenty of water and other fluids to hydrate your body and soothe your irritated throat
- Gargling with warm salt water to reduce throat inflammation
- Using an over-the-counter throat numbing spray or lozenges for temporary relief
- Taking an OTC pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to reduce your throat pain
- Getting plenty of rest to allow your body time to heal
Visit South Tampa Immediate Care for Fast Strep Throat Diagnosis and Treatment
If you have a painful sore throat and other symptoms of strep, South Tampa Immediate Care is here to help. Our walk-in urgent care center provides fast, reliable strep testing and effective sore throat treatment without the need for an appointment. Stop by today to get the care you need so you can start feeling better. You can also enter our waiting room remotely and receive a text confirmation and updates on your spot in the queue.
