You wake up with a sore throat, but don’t think very much of it. By midday, it has become painful to swallow and you start to feel feverish. You know that this is not a flare of seasonal allergies or the common cold. In this blog, we’ll cover how long strep throat typically lasts, how to prevent the spread of strep throat, and how to speed up healing with proper care and treatment.
What is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, also known as Group A Streptococcus. The infection causes swelling and inflammation that can lead to discomfort, fever, and other symptoms that interfere with your daily life.
How Long Does Strep Throat Last?
Strep throat typically lasts 3 to 7 days from the time of infection, although it may take up to 5 days before your first symptom appears. Treatment typically begins working within 2 days.
Symptoms of Strep Throat
While strep throat and the common cold share some symptoms, individuals infected with strep throat often experience a more sudden onset of symptoms. Here are common signs to watch for:
- Sudden onset of a sore throat
- Swollen tonsils
- White patches in the throat
- High fever
- Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Chills
It’s important to note that strep throat typically does not cause a cough, and that you can be asymptomatically infected with the bacteria that causes strep throat. At Integrity Urgent Care, we offer testing for strep throat, cold, flu, fever, and other infections at our several locations across Texas.
Is Strep Throat Contagious?
Yes, strep throat is contagious. Group A Streptococcus bacteria can spread from person to person through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated surfaces. If you are infected with strep throat, it can take up to 5 days before your symptoms develop. However, you are still infectious to others during this time. You will stop being contagious 24 to 48 hours after you start antibiotic treatment.
How to Prevent the Spread of Strep Throat
If you think you could have strep throat, are experiencing strep throat symptoms, or share a household with someone with a confirmed case of strep throat, stay home from school or work until at least 24 hours after starting antibiotics. Here are some best practices to avoid the spread of strep throat:
- Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap.
- Don’t share food, drinks, or utensils with others.
- Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
What is a Strep Test?
If you think you might be infected with strep throat, a medical provider can perform a strep test to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan. Using a cotton swab, a healthcare provider will swab the back of the throat and use a rapid test method or send the swab for lab testing to check for the presence of Group A Streptococcus bacteria.
Treatment for Strep Throat
Strep throat treatment includes the use of antibiotics to kill Group A Streptococcus bacteria present in the throat. It’s important to take the full dose of medication, even when symptoms are gone. Strep throat will not go away on its own, so it’s important to seek treatment to avoid complications.
For appointment-based or walk-in strep tests, trust Integrity Urgent Care for effective strep throat testing and treatment. With convenient locations across Texas, we can help you start feeling better as quickly as possible. Schedule an appointment with our team today.
