What To Take For Strep Throat

What Can Make My Sore Throat Feel Better

Here are some things that might help you feel better:

• Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain and reduce fever. Children should not take aspirin. Aspirin can cause a serious illness called Reyes syndrome when it is given to children younger than 18 years of age.
• Gargle with warm salt water .
• Adults and older children can suck on throat lozenges, hard candy, pieces of ice, or popsicles.
• Eat soft foods and drink cool drinks or warm liquids .
• Get plenty of rest. Sleep helps your body fight infection.
• Drink plenty of water. This helps keep your throat lubricated and helps prevent dehydration.
• Avoid acidic or spicy foods and drinks .

Other Strep Throat Prevention Methods: 12 Remediesthat You Can Follow

It is confirmed that if you go to the doctor for strep throat treatment, you will be handed over-prescribed medications of only antibiotics. Home remedies are the best that can try to prevent strep throat infection. However, you must consult with your healthcare provider before you choose to do anything independently.

1. Elderberry

The Elderberry extract has antibacterial and also has some antiviral effects. The extracts from elderberry can protect you from respiratory conditions during long flights. Respiratory infections are more common on flights caused by viruses and bacteria-induced respiratory infections.

Even one study showed that people with this supplement had rarer respiratory tract infections compared with other people without this supplement. Moreover, the elderberry, irrespective of the concentrations, can reduce the growth of bacteria when compared to zero elderberry concentrations.

You can discuss adding elderberry supplements to your daily routine with your caretaker. This can not only decrease upper respiratory disorders but can even increase your antioxidant intake, which is typically found in cough-drop form, syrup, and capsules.

2. Echinacea

3. Raw Honey

If you consume honey daily, it can raise the levels of health-promoting antioxidants in your body. Raw honey even helps the body boost the immune system and is also one of the best in soothing strep throat.

4. Bone Broth

5. Herbal Tea

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

Does Strep Throat Go Away On Its Own

Strep throat typically goes away within three to seven days with or without antibiotic treatment. If strep throat is not treated with antibiotics, you may be contagious for two to three weeks and at a higher risk for complications such as rheumatic fever.

Strep throat is more common in children under the age of 19. If your child has it they may also get a red rash, called scarlet fever or scarlatina. The rash may start out as flat blotches and later turn to fine bumps that feel like sandpaper.

While these are all common signs of strep throat, a doctor cannot tell for sure if you or your child has it just by looking at your throat. A rapid strep test or throat culture are the only ways to determine whether group A Streptococcus is the cause of your illness.

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Will Strep Throat Go Away On Its Own

We highly recommend being seen by a provider if you are concerned you may have strep throat. Strep throat typically goes away in three to seven days with or without antibiotic treatment. However, if you dont take antibiotics, you can remain contagious for two to three weeks and are at a higher risk for complications, such as rheumatic fever.

Whatre more, complications resulting from the bacterial infection can lead to increased susceptibility to other viral infections like influenza which can be fatal.

Pro Tip: If you have been diagnosed with strep throat, you can help prevent repeat infections by changing your and your familys toothbrushes and thoroughly disinfecting all surfaces that may have been in contact with the strep virus.

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.

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How Do I Know If My Strep Throat Is Viral Or Bacterial

Strep throats are bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus bacteria. However, viral infections can also cause a sore throat.

To find out whether your sore throat is a sign of viral or bacterial infection, youll need to pay attention to your symptoms and the length of your sore throat.

• A common cold is a viral infection with a sore throat that lasts 24-48 hours.
• Strep throat is a bacterial infection with a sore throat that lasts up to 5 days.
• Tonsillitis is a bacterial infection with a sore throat that lasts 4-10 days.

Antibiotics are only used to treat bacterial infections. If youre not sure whether your infection is viral or bacterial, your doctor will be able to diagnose your infection and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Can Other People Catch My Strep Throat

Yes. You can pass the strep infection to other people until you have been treated appropriately with an antibiotic. Children who have strep throat should not go back to school or day care until their fever has gone away and they have taken an antibiotic for at least 24 hours.

Here are more things you can do to prevent spreading strep throat:

• Frequently wash your hands.
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid sharing food utensils while you are sick.

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Rheumatic Fever: All You Need To Know

Rheumatic fever is a disease that can affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin. Rheumatic fever can develop if strep throat and scarlet fever infections are not treated properly. Early diagnosis of these infections and treatment with antibiotics are key to preventing rheumatic fever.

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Worried You Might Have Strep Throat Know The Signs And Get Treatment Fast

A sore throat can be mildly annoying to debilitatingly painful, but there are several common causes that could be the culprit. When your throat feels dry or itchy or its painful to swallow, getting to the bottom of the potential cause is important in order to get the right kind of treatment.

Strep throat is caused by contagious bacteria that can easily be spread through the air when someone coughs. You can also catch it from someone if you share food or drinks with them.

So, what are the most common strep throat signs? Lets take a look so you can understand the symptoms when they first appear.

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Strep Throat Home Care

Until the antibiotics start to work, these home treatments can help you or your child feel better:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers: Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to bring down a fever and ease the sore throat. Don’t give aspirin to children and teens. It can cause a rare but serious condition called Reyeâs syndrome.
• Rest: Stay home from school or work. You need extra rest to help your body fight off the infection.
• Gargling: Rinse with a mixture of a quarter-teaspoon of salt and 8 ounces of warm water to relieve a scratchy throat.
• Lozenges and hard candy: Older kids can suck on these to feel better. Avoid giving small pieces of candy to children 4 and younger.
• Lots of fluids: Do this especially if you have a fever. Water and warm liquids such as soup or tea soothe the throat and keep you hydrated. If cold feels better on your throat, suck on a frozen pop or ice chips. Avoid orange juice, lemonade, and other drinks that are high in acid. These can burn your throat.
• Soft foods: Examples include yogurt, applesauce, or frozen yogurt. They’re easier to swallow.
• Cool-mist humidifier or saline nasal spray: Moisture can help make your throat feel better.

Steer clear of anything that might bother your throat, like cigarette smoke, paint fumes, or cleaning products.

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Personal Stories About Taking Antibiotics For Sore Throat

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

I was sick a lot as a kid, and I was always taking medicine. Maybe it helped at the time. But in the past few years, when Ive gotten a bad sore throat or sinus infection, antibiotics havent worked. Ive had to try two or three different ones each time. That gets expensive. The next time I get a sore throat, Im going to try just staying home, resting, and taking care of myself instead of taking antibiotics.

Jesse, 34

My 8-year-old daughter got strep throat last month. I thought it was just a cold, and I kept her home from school for a few days. But she wasnt getting better and she felt so miserable. I was also worried about ear infections. She gets a lot of those too. The doctor did a strep test and suggested she take antibiotics. Amy started feeling better a few days later. I think antibiotics were the right way to go this time.

My insurance doesnt pay for all of my medicines, so I try to make sure I really need the ones I do take. The last time I had a bad cold, my throat got really sore. The pain made it hard for me to swallow. I called my doctors office and the nurse said I could come in if I felt I needed a prescription. I thought Id wait and see instead. I took ibuprofen and drank a lot of tea and honey, and in a few days I felt better. Im glad I didnt spend the money on a doctor visit and medicine.

Esther, 42

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How To Care For Your Child

There are thingsyou can do to help your child feel better.

• Give them lots of liquids, like water, Pedialyte®, diluted apple juice, or popsicles. Give small amounts of liquid often .

• Give soft foods that are easy to swallow, like applesauce, mashed potatoes, hot cereal, or eggs. Your child may not want to eat much if it hurts to swallow.
• To soothe a sore throat, offer:
• For children over age 1, give warm fluids like water, herbal tea with honey, or diluted apple juice. Do not give honey to children under age 1. For some children, cold fluids or popsicles can be soothing.
• For children over age 4, give throat or cough lozenges or use throat sprays. Read the label to know the right dose for your child. Do not use throat sprays that contain benzocaine, as this could cause a drug reaction.
• For children over age 6 who are able to gargle without swallowing, mix ½ teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Have them swish and gargle the mixture 2 to 3 times a day for the next few days. Do not let your child swallow the salt water have them spit it out.

• For a fever or throat pain, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed. Read the label to know the right dose for your child. Do not give aspirin or products that contain aspirin.

What Causes Strep Throat

Strep throat, also known as streptococcal pharyngitis, is caused by bacteria called group Astreptococcus, or Streptococcus pyogenes, which can seed the nose and throat.

You can get the infection from someone who is sick with strep, as it spreads through close contact with saliva.

Symptoms, which include fever, sore throat, red tonsils, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, typically begin one to three days after exposure and last seven to 10 days.

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Can You Get Strep Throat Without Tonsils

It is possible to get strep throat after youve had your tonsils removed, although there is some evidence that you may get it less often . Strep throat is when bacteria called group A Streptococcus infect your throat and tonsils. Once youve had your tonsils removed the bacteria can no longer infect them but can still infect your throat. What you cant get after youve had your tonsils removed is tonsillitis what doctors call an infection of the tonsils regardless of the cause. Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a virus, but when its caused by bacteria, the culprit is usually streptococcus, or strep.

Sore Throat And Strep Throat

Sore throat is primarily due to a virus, and the pain happens in the throat. However, it can also be due to bacteria, throat dryness, allergies, and pollution. If you face a sore throat infection, you can have a strep throat infection and some other respiratory infections. Moreover, these two infections can spread from person to person through close contact. Strep throat, also caused by a virus, can be as contagious as a sore throat.

Throat infections are more common in adults than in children under 5 years of age. Children below 15 suffer from throat infections due to bacterial infections, characterized by group A strep. Moreover, every person with sore throats doesnât have any bacterial infection.

It is hard to differentiate between strep throat symptoms and viral infection symptoms. However, while doing a self-diagnosis, you must know that strep throat symptoms do not influence cold symptoms. Also, it does not include coughing, sneezing, or runny nose.

If you face cold symptoms, you should be sure that it is caused due to viral infection and not strep throat. You can opt for strep throat home remedies to get relief from the symptoms.

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How Long Does Strep Throat Last

A sore throat can be a sign of a variety of illnesses, including strep throat. Strep throat is considered a mild illness, but it can be quite uncomfortable. Common symptoms include:

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Tiny red dots on the roof of the mouth

Other symptoms can include headache, nausea, stomachache, and vomiting. When a rash occurs with strep throat, its called scarlet fever.

This article will discuss the risk factors for strep throat, how its treated, and how long it lasts.

Paul Bradbury / Getty Images

What Are The Treatments For Strep Throat

Strep throat, caused by bacteria, is one type of sore throat that can be treated. It isn’t handled in the same way as sore throats caused by colds and other viruses, so your doctor will likely do whatâs called a ârapid strep testâ to be sure it’s strep

If the test is positive , theyâll probably recommend:

• Antibiotics to kill the bacteria thatâs causing it
• Rest to help you get better faster
• Over-the-counter medicines and home remedies to ease symptoms

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Top 8 Home Remedies For Strep Throat

Strep throat is a common bacterial infection that comes on suddenly, causing a painful sore throat and a fever.

Its caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes, or type A Streptococcus.

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is typically treated with antibiotics to prevent a serious complication called rheumatic fever.

But, even on antibiotics, symptoms like fever and sore throat can continue for 1-2 weeks as you recover.

There are some at-home remedies that can help soothe your symptoms while you recover.

Dont waste time on unproven remedies.

In this article, Ill start by providing more information about strep throat, and then list 8 home remedies that are safe and may help with your symptoms.

Ill also tell you about some things to avoid, and precautions you can take.

Ill talk about the types of antibiotics that are prescribed for strep throat, and explain when you should see a doctor or healthcare provider about your sore throat.

How You Get Strep Throat

Group A strep live in the nose and throat and can easily spread to other people. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing, which creates small respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria. They can also spread the bacteria from infected sores on their skin.

It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep to become ill with strep throat.

It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.

People can get sick if they:

• Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria
• Touch something with those droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose
• Drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a person infected with group A strep
• Touch sores on the skin caused by group A strep or come into contact with fluid from the sores

Rarely, people can spread group A strep through food that is not handled properly .

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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.