Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.
Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Either penicillin or amoxicillin are recommended as a first choice for people who are not allergic to penicillin. Doctors can use other antibiotics to treat strep throat in people who are allergic to penicillin. They are less likely to spread the bacteria to others and very unlikely to get complications. If a carrier gets a sore throat illness caused by a virus, the rapid strep test can be positive. In these cases it can be hard to know what is causing the sore throat.
If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection.
Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier. Complications can occur after a strep throat infection. This can happen if the bacteria spread to other parts of the body. Complications can include:. People can get strep throat more than once.
Having strep throat does not protect someone from getting it again in the future. While there is no vaccine to prevent strep throat, there are things people can do to protect themselves and others.
The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating.
To practice good hygiene, you should:. You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them.
These items are safe for others to use once washed. Take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.
If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female".
This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Do you have an injury to your mouth or teeth? Do you think that a problem with your mouth such as a sore or an infection is causing the sore throat? Does your baby seem sick? A sick baby probably will not be acting normally.
For example, the baby may be much fussier than usual or not want to eat. How sick do you think your baby is? Extremely sick. Baby is sick sleepier than usual, not eating or drinking like usual. Is your baby having trouble breathing? Sometimes babies may have trouble breathing because of a stuffy nose. If your baby's nose is stuffy, clearing the nose with a rubber bulb may help. Would you describe the breathing problem as severe, moderate, or mild?
Do you think your baby may be dehydrated? Are the symptoms severe, moderate, or mild? Do you think your baby has a fever?
Did you take a rectal temperature? Taking a rectal temperature is the only way to be sure that a baby this age does not have a fever. If you don't know the rectal temperature, it's safest to assume the baby has a fever and needs to be seen by a doctor. Any problem that causes a fever at this age could be serious. Is it Is your child drooling and unable to swallow, cry, or make sounds?
Is your child having trouble breathing more than a stuffy nose? The symptoms of difficulty breathing in an older child may be different than symptoms in a baby or young child. Is your child's ability to breathe:. Getting worse? Staying about the same not better or worse? Getting better? Quickly getting worse within minutes or hours? Slowly getting worse over days? Does your child have a chronic health problem that affects his or her breathing, such as asthma? A breathing problem may be more of a concern if your child normally does not have breathing problems.
Is the problem your child is having right now different than what you are used to? Does your child make a harsh, high-pitched sound when he or she breathes in?
This often occurs with a loud cough that sounds like a barking seal. Are you suddenly drooling and not able to swallow? Are you having trouble breathing more than a stuffy nose? Would you describe the problem as severe, moderate, or mild? Is your ability to breathe:. Do you have a chronic health problem that affects your breathing, such as asthma, allergies, or COPD? A breathing problem may be more of a concern if you normally do not have breathing problems.
Are the breathing problems you're having right now different than what you are used to? Do you think you may be dehydrated? The symptoms in an adult or older child are different than the symptoms in a baby or toddler. Are you having trouble drinking enough to replace the fluids you've lost?
Little sips of fluid usually are not enough. You need to be able to take in and keep down plenty of fluids. Do you think your child has a fever? Did you take your child's temperature? How high is the fever? The answer may depend on how you took the temperature. Moderate: Mild: How high do you think the fever is?
Mild or low. How long has your child had a fever? Less than 2 days 48 hours. From 2 days to less than 1 week.
Does your child have a health problem or take medicine that weakens his or her immune system? Does your child have shaking chills or very heavy sweating? Shaking chills are a severe, intense form of shivering.
Heavy sweating means that sweat is pouring off the child or soaking through his or her clothes. Do you think you may have a fever? Did you take your temperature? How long have you had a fever? At least 2 days but less than 1 week. Do you have a health problem or take medicine that weakens your immune system? Do you have shaking chills or very heavy sweating? Heavy sweating means that sweat is pouring off you or soaking through your clothes.
Is there any pain? How bad is your throat pain, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine? Signs of pain in a baby or toddler are different than signs of pain in an older child or adult.
Is the pain on only one side of your throat? Does your voice sound hoarse or muffled? How long have you had the sore throat or other throat problem? Less than 1 day 24 hours. Longer than 1 week. Have you been exposed to someone who may have strep throat? Do you have swollen lymph nodes in your neck? Do you have white or green patches or pus on the back of your throat?
Do you have cold symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose or drainage from your nose down the back of your throat? Colds often cause a sore throat. You can usually treat this at home. Do you have a rash? Certain illnesses can cause a sore throat and a rash. You may need to be seen sooner if you have both. Have your symptoms lasted longer than 2 weeks? These include: Your age.
Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner. Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse. Recent health events , such as surgery or injury.
These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious. Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel. Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect.
You may need care sooner. Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing.
For example: The child may be breathing a little faster than usual mild difficulty breathing , or the child may be having so much trouble that the nostrils are flaring and the belly is moving in and out with every breath severe difficulty breathing. The child may seem a little out of breath but is still able to eat or talk mild difficulty breathing , or the child may be breathing so hard that he or she cannot eat or talk severe difficulty breathing.
Pain in children under 3 years It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in. Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace. Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her. Mild pain 1 to 4 : The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
Pain in adults and older children Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain. Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there. Mild pain 1 to 4 : You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.
Severe trouble breathing means: The child cannot eat or talk because he or she is breathing so hard. The child's nostrils are flaring and the belly is moving in and out with every breath.
The child seems to be tiring out. The child seems very sleepy or confused. Bacterial infection : In the case of a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. People should always take the complete course, even if they feel better before finishing all the medication.
Viral infection : Sore throats due to a viral infection usually start to improve within 7 days and do not require medical treatment. Acetaminophen or mild pain relievers may help with the pain and fever. Children can use pediatric versions of these.
A pharmacist can advise which ones to use and how much. It is important always to follow the instructions on the medication and not to take more than they suggest. A person with epiglottitis or may need to spend time in the hospital. In severe cases, they may need intubation to help them breathe. If investigations reveal a tumor or another cause, the doctor will discuss appropriate treatment options with the individual.
Honey is not safe for children aged under 1 year, due to the risk of botulism , a type of food poisoning. A review of three studies published in concluded that dissolving tablets containing a high dose of zinc acetate in the mouth may relieve symptoms of a common cold in adults, including a sore throat. However, more evidence is needed to show that it works and that it is safe in the long term. It can also have some adverse effects, including nausea and a bad taste in the mouth.
Zinc nasal sprays are also available, but some people have experienced a permanent loss of smell after using them. Children should not use these products. Some of these may be useful because of their possible anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is a lack of evidence to prove that many these treatments are effective or safe.
Some, such as vitamin C, will have no additional effect once a person has a cold. However, a study published in concluded that extracts of clove, ginger, danshen, and Echinacea flower may reduce the inflammation that can occur with strep throat. Click here to learn about 15 home remedies for a sore throat. Always check with a doctor or health professional before taking any alternative remedies, to make sure they are safe to use and that they will not interact with another medication.
A sore throat can be uncomfortable, but most are not serious, and they usually go away quickly. Home remedies and over-the-counter medication can soothe the symptoms. However, if symptoms are severe, persistent, or if a person has difficulty breathing, they should see a doctor.
If it is strep throat, they will prescribe antibiotics. A look at tightness in the throat, an uncomfortable feeling that has a range of causes. Included is detail on anxiety and the symptoms of the…. Pharyngitis, or a sore throat, is an inflammation of the pharynx that can cause discomfort and difficulty swallowing. Learn more here. Norovirus can give a person many symptoms, including diarrhea and nausea.
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