Discover Urgent Care for Strep Throat

Strep Throat Treatment

If you are experiencing a fever, sore throat, pain when swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, you may have more than just a simple sore throat; you may have strep throat. At AllCare, our dedicated health professionals can offer a precise diagnosis and personalized treatment plan for your strep throat. We offer compassionate urgent and primary care services delivered by a team of experts who will prioritize your comfort at every step of your recovery.

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Why It’s Important to Treat Strep Throat

What is Strep Throat?

Strep throat is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria, which makes your throat and tonsils feel sore, inflamed, and scratchy. It can be spread through respiratory droplets and direct contact with an infected person’s mucus. Strep throat represents only a small portion of sore throats, most sore throats are caused by viruses like the cold or flu a and b.

Strep Throat Symptoms

Strep throat is common in both adults and children. Symptoms often appear suddenly and can include:

A sore throat
A high fever
Chills
Headache
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting

We understand how uncomfortable strep throat can be for you or your child. If left untreated, it can lead to other serious health concerns, including:

Rheumatic fever, which can cause painful joints, a rash, and heart damage
Kidney inflammation in the filtering part of the kidneys
Toxic shock syndrome, which may occur when the bacteria release toxins into the bloodstream, potentially leading to organ failure

AllCare offers a comprehensive approach to sore throat treatment. Here, you can undergo strep throat testing and start your treatment plan in one convenient location. Whether you require a thorough strep throat test, medications to help relieve your sore throat pain, or a consultation with a specialist, AllCare streamlines your healthcare journey by offering all these services during a single visit.

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Strep Throat Testing and Treatment

Strep Throat Medications

Oral antibiotics can help relieve the symptoms of strep throat, prevent complications, and reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others. We may also recommend over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to alleviate sore throat pain and lower fever.

Allergy Testing

If allergic reactions are suspected, we may perform additional tests to rule out allergies that could cause throat pain.

Rapid Strep Test

This quick throat swab detects the bacteria that causes strep. Results are usually ready in under 15 minutes.

Throat Culture

A sterile swab is gently rubbed against the back of the throat and tonsils to collect a sample of secretions. The sample is sent to a laboratory for bacterial culture. Results can take up to two days to be available.

Is it a Cold, Tonsillitis, or Strep Throat?

A sore throat is a common symptom that can signal various conditions, including a cold, strep throat, or tonsillitis, but understanding the differences between these can help identify the cause.

A sore throat with sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, headache, fever, muscle aches, nausea, and coughing is typically associated with a cold.
In contrast, tonsillitis often includes swollen, red tonsils, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, fever, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and bad breath.
Strep throat, however, is more severe and presents symptoms such as a sudden sore throat, pain when swallowing, red tonsils with white spots, fever, swollen neck lymph nodes, and additional signs like tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth, nausea, vomiting, rash, stomach pain, and loss of appetite.

Online Doctor Visits and Telehealth Services

Experience the convenience of telehealth appointments at AllCare. Our telemedicine services are designed to provide you with seamless access to healthcare without the need to leave your home. Whether you need an online doctor’s appointment for immediate or primary care, AllCare’s got you covered. With our online telehealth services currently available to individuals located in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Georgia, you can connect with our experienced urgent and primary care physicians via secure video calls.

At AllCare, we are expanding our virtual healthcare access to all services previously offered in person. This includes:

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How Long Does Strep Throat Last?

Strep throat typically lasts between 3 to 7 days, but the exact duration depends on whether or not it is treated. Without treatment, symptoms such as a sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes may persist for the full week or longer, with an increased risk of complications like rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation.

Note: When treated with antibiotics, strep throat symptoms usually improve significantly within 24 to 48 hours, and the infection is no longer contagious after about 24 hours of starting the medication.

GET TREATED

Schedule a Strep Throat Appointment at AllCare

Getting diagnosed and treated for strep throat is as easy as scheduling an appointment at AllCare, but you can also see a doctor at our facilities on a walk-in visit if needed. Here are a few simple steps for getting treated for strep throat:

Schedule Your Appointment: Contact AllCare to schedule your strep throat treatment appointment and provide essential information about your symptoms and medical history.
Visit AllCare: Follow our instructions for your visit and maintain physical distance, if directed to, to ensure a safe and comfortable experience during your strep throat treatment.
Receive Your Treatment Plan: Our healthcare providers will evaluate your symptoms, perform any necessary tests, and develop a personalized treatment plan that may include antibiotics, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and self-care advice for home.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Strep Throat

01 How do you Get Strep Throat?

If a person with strep throat coughs, laughs, or sneezes, they release droplets into the air. If you inhale these droplets, you can become infected. Additionally, if you touch something with strep bacteria on it, then touch your mouth or nose, share plates, glasses, or other eating utensils with an infected person, you can get strep throat.

02 How is Strep Throat Managed?

Antibiotics play an important role in eliminating bacteria and preventing complications. It is important to complete the full course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms disappear. If you stop taking them as prescribed, bacterial remnants can remain, increasing the risk of recurrence or potentially developing rheumatic fever.

Additionally, some home remedies can help reduce the symptoms of strep throat, including gargling with salt water, avoiding spicy foods, drinking warm fluids, and getting plenty of rest.

03 How Do I Know if I Have Strep Throat?

Strep throat often shows up with sudden, intense symptoms that feel worse than a regular sore throat. You might notice a sharp, painful throat that makes swallowing difficult, red and swollen tonsils (sometimes with white spots), and a fever over 101°F. Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and tiny red spots on the roof of your mouth are also common. You could also have headaches, stomach pain, nausea, or even a rash.

Unlike a cold, strep throat usually doesn’t come with sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose. If these symptoms sound familiar, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. They can do a quick throat swab to check if it’s strep and, if needed, start you on antibiotics to help you feel better and stop the infection from spreading. Early treatment makes a big difference!

04 What Causes Strep Throat?

Strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection from Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes). This bacteria spreads easily from person to person through respiratory droplets when someone infected coughs, sneezes, or talks. You can also catch it by touching surfaces contaminated with the bacteria and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Strep throat is more common in crowded environments like schools, workplaces, or households, where close contact makes it easier for the bacteria to spread. It’s particularly contagious during the first 24-48 hours of infection, especially if left untreated.

05 Does Strep Throat Go Away on Its Own?

Strep throat may eventually go away without treatment, but leaving it untreated is not recommended. While the symptoms might improve over time, untreated strep throat can lead to serious complications, such as rheumatic fever, kidney inflammation, or the spread of the infection to other parts of the body.

STATES WHERE WE SERVE PRIMARY AND URGENT CARE

Strep Throat Treatment in Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

At AllCare, we’re proud to deliver exceptional primary and urgent care to residents across Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Georgia. From bustling city centers to serene suburban neighborhoods, our clinics are strategically placed for your convenience and care. Experience top-tier strep throat treatment in your community with AllCare, where your health is our priority.

VIRGINIA

MARYLAND

WASHINGTON DC

GEORGIA

Prioritize your health today: schedule your strep throat testing appointment

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