Where is strep throat contracted

If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab.

A throat culture takes time to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. While it takes more time, a throat culture sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test misses. Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated strep throat infection.

For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever following a strep throat infection. 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. If you have strep throat, sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow or a tissue rather than into your hand. Be sure to wash your hands frequently. Explore more ways to prevent strep throat.

Strep throat is more common in children than in adults. Parents of school-aged children are more likely to become infected. Not all sore throats are a result of a strep infection. Other illnesses can cause a sore throat too. These include:. Sore throats caused by other medical conditions usually improve on their own with or without treatment in a few days. Here are 10 ways to help relieve a sore throat. Although children are more likely than adults to have strep throat, it is very rare in toddlers under the age of 3 years.

Strep throat most commonly occurs in children between the ages of 5 and Find out what to do if your baby has a sore throat. The bacteria that causes strep throat, group A streptococcus , is not the same as group B streptococcus , which is found around the vagina or rectum. While group B streptococcus can be passed to a baby during delivery, it is unrelated to the bacteria that causes strep throat. If you think you may have strep throat during your pregnancy, see your doctor right away to discuss treatment options.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and will carefully monitor your medications. Essential oils are distilled from the leaves, bark, stems, and flowers of plants. They may help promote healing by killing germs and reducing inflammation. The medical benefits of essential oils are controversial. However, studies show the following essential oils can be an effective alternative to over-the-counter medications for treating the symptoms of strep throat:. They can be inhaled or diluted with oil and added to a bath.

Explore more about using these essential oils to treat a sore throat. Most common colds are caused by a virus, while a bacterial infection causes strep throat. If you have a common cold, you usually have symptoms such as coughing , a runny nose , and hoarseness. These symptoms, especially coughing, are not common with strep throat.

When your throat is sore due to a cold, the pain usually develops gradually and disappears in a couple of days. The pain from strep throat can occur suddenly. Colds typically clear up on their own without the need for medical treatment. To prevent complications, like rheumatic fever, antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat strep throat.

It usually affects teenagers and young adults. Just like strep throat, mono symptoms can include a sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph glands. They may need to prescribe a different antibiotic to fight the infection. You should start to feel better within a couple of days after beginning treatment for strep throat. Tonsillitis can be caused by various viruses or bacteria.

Strep throat is only caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. At-home strep tests are a way to potentially save yourself a trip to the doctor, but how well do they actually work? You can still get strep throat without tonsils, but you may be at a lower risk for this infection following a tonsillectomy.

We look forward to helping your children get back on their feet! In most cases, crossed eyes in babies are normal, as their muscles develop and learn to focus. But, crossed eyes in older babies and toddlers could indicate a possible vision or medical issue. Strep throat is quite common and very treatable with antibiotics. Gone untreated, though, it can lead to complications. We share how this treatment works.

You want your child to have a gleaming smile and strong teeth for a lifetime. Fluoride treatments help prevent cavities that get in the way of a beautiful smile. Learn why this is an oral care step your kids need. Children receive vaccines and booster shots at different stages of development. Find out which vaccines your child needs now to provide protection from devastating illnesses. Sports help a child develop physically and emotionally. You want to make sure you set them up for success this summer season.