Strep Throat Treatment in North Charleston, SC

Kids and adults alike are all susceptible to strep throat. This highly contagious disease comes from a bacteria called group A Streptococcus.

Group A strep can actually live within the nose or throat without causing any sort of harm to its host. These bacteria only become a problem when they come into contact with an infected person.

This transfer can happen any time, and is quite easily spread through coughing, sneezing, sharing dishes or utensils, etc.

Symptoms of Strep

Since strep throat is a very common disease it is important to know its symptoms, which consist of:

  • A sore throat
  • Pain upon swallowing
  • Fever
  • Very swollen tonsils that may also have white or yellow spots
  • Small red spots, known as petechiae, located on the roof of the mouth
  • Swollen lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck
  • Headache
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea and vomiting

Although many patients report them as symptoms of strep, a cough, runny nose, and hoarseness all have nothing to do with strep throat. These are signs of another possible illness, which could be occurring along with a case of strep, but is not connected to strep in any way.

It is wise to go see a doctor if you believe yourself to be sick with strep throat. Untreated cases of strep can develop to cause several serious health problems such as: 

  • Infection of the tonsils, sinuses, skin, blood, or middle ear
  • Scarlet fever
  • Inflammation of the kidneys
  • Rheumatic fever

Treatment for Strep Throat

Thankfully, strep throat is quite easy to treat using antibiotics. After 24 hours of taking these antibiotics, you will no longer be contagious. This does not mean that you can stop taking the prescribed antibiotics.

In order to be fully effective and prevent the person’s strep throat from immediately returning, they must finish the entire supply of antibiotics prescribed to them. This period usually lasts for about 10 days.

It is also possible to relieve common symptoms of strep throat, particularly a sore throat, by taking over-the-counter medications such as anti-inflammatories. This will help to reduce the swelling of the tonsils, which can make speaking and eating much more manageable.