Despite being one of the more common childhood illnesses, strep throat is nonetheless not to be taken lightly. Understanding what it is, recognizing the symptoms to watch for, and knowing when to seek urgent care treatment are essential to prevent complications.
What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is caused by an infection with Group A streptococcus bacteria and is typically marked by a sore throat, along with other symptoms. Strep can potentially lead to serious complications if not treated. Understanding what to watch for and when to seek urgent care for strep throat is essential.
Risk Factors for Strep Throat
Since the cause of strep throat is infection with the Group A strep bacteria, being around other people with a strep infection is a risk factor.
Strep throat is most common in children, although adults can also contract it.
Is Strep Throat Contagious?
Strep throat is quite contagious and can be spread from person to person through:
- Getting germs on your hands from a doorknob or other surfaces and touching your nose, eyes, or mouth.
- Droplets from a sick person’s sneeze or cough.
- Sharing cups or utensils.
If you or your child are prescribed an antibiotic for strep throat, you’ll no longer be contagious after 24 to 48 hours of beginning treatment.
Strep Throat Symptoms to Watch For
Signs of strep throat can include:
- Sudden throat pain.
- Pain with swallowing.
- Redness or red speckling at the back of the throat or roof of the mouth.
- White patches or streaks on the tonsils.
- Tender, swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Rash.
- Headache.
- Body aches.
- Abdominal pain.
- Vomiting or nausea (more common in young children).
When To Go to Urgent Care for Strep Throat
When should you see a doctor or provider for strep throat? If you notice any of the above symptoms or are concerned that you or your child may have strep throat, don’t hesitate to visit urgent care. A trained provider can assess your symptoms, help diagnose strep, and order the appropriate treatment. If you or your child has strep throat, it’s important to seek treatment to prevent complications.
Urgent care is an excellent choice for strep throat diagnosis and treatment. Get to an emergency room instead if you or your child has the following symptoms, which may indicate a life-threatening situation:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Cyanosis (a gray or blue tinge to the lips, face, fingers, or hands).
- Extreme difficulty swallowing.
- Drooling.
Potential Complications of Untreated Strep Throat
If you or your child has strep, treatment with an antibiotic as prescribed by a provider can reduce the risk of complications, which can be serious and may include:
- Peritonsillar abscess—a pocket of infection near one of your tonsils.
- Sinus infection.
- Cellulitis—infection of tissue.
- Sepsis—a blood infection.
- Middle ear infection.
- Scarlet fever—a strep infection marked by a rash.
- Kidney inflammation.
- Rheumatic fever—a serious condition that can affect the heart valves, joints, and nervous system.
- Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis—a condition affecting the joints.
Diagnosing Strep Throat
How do urgent care providers diagnose strep throat? A provider will typically discuss your symptoms and perform a physical exam. Visualizing your throat and assessing your lymph nodes are often part of the diagnostic process. Your provider may order a throat swab to check for strep throat.
Strep Throat Treatment Options
If you have strep throat, an antibiotic is the central treatment. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, it’s important to take it as directed and to finish the full course of treatment, even if you’re feeling better after a few days. This helps to prevent complications or recurrent infections.
Additional treatments that may help relieve symptoms include rest, fluids, and medications for pain or fever (such as Tylenol or Motrin). Do not give aspirin to children or teens.
Urgent Care for Strep Throat in San Antonio
If you or your child needs medical care for strep throat or other ear, nose, or throat concerns, visit us at Alamo City Urgent Care. Our caring team will ensure that you receive the help you need promptly.
For convenient, high-quality diagnosis and treatment of strep and many other injuries and illnesses, visit one of our four convenient locations or contact us to learn more about Alamo City Urgent Care.
