Strep throat is something that most of us will suffer from at some point in our life. It’s most commonly seen in young children, but anyone can be affected. When you’re suffering from strep throat, getting the right treatment in a timely fashion is vital to preventing the spread of the illness to those around you.
What is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that’s highly contagious. It causes fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and red or white splotches along the back of the throat. If strep throat is left untreated, it can cause the bacterial infection to spread to nearby areas and even affect other internal organs.
Home Remedies
Home remedies may be able to help relieve some of your strep throat symptoms until antibiotics are able to clear the infection. Common home remedies include:
- Drinking hot tea or warm water with lemon and honey
- Over the counter pain relievers
- Using a humidifier to breathe in moist air
Lower your risk of catching or spreading strep throat by not sharing personal items, washing your hands frequently, and coughing or sneezing into your arm rather than your hands. Since strep throat is a bacterial infection, it cannot be treated with home remedies alone. Even if you notice symptom improvement initially, strep throat will continue to progress until you get the right antibiotics in your system.
When to Seek Professional Help
If a sore throat lasts more than 48 hours or comes along with a fever, swollen lymph nodes, visible rash along the back of the throat, or difficulty swallowing, you should visit a medical professional. A doctor or nurse practitioner will assess your symptoms, swab for strep throat, and provide antibiotics if you test positive.
Strep throat is extremely contagious and can lead to more serious health conditions if it’s left untreated. Instead of waiting for the next available appointment at your family doctor, visit your local urgent care center to receive strep throat treatment. An urgent care center will be able to test for and treat strep in the same way a family doctor or emergency room would, but they do it at a fraction of the cost! Not only will you leave with a lower bill, you won’t spend hours in the waiting room before you’re seen.
When it comes to strep throat time is of the essence, so head to your local urgent care center today!