Strep throat is one of the most common infections, affecting millions of Americans annually. It’s caused by a type of bacteria called group A streptococcus and brings symptoms such as sore throat, fever, and loss of appetite.
Because strep throat is prominent during cold and flu season, many people treat it at home. But are over-the-counter remedies as effective as antibiotics?
At Himalaya Family Medicine Clinic in Aurora, Colorado, our family medicine doctor, Bipin Kumar, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating strep throat. Keep reading to learn if strep throat goes away on its own and when to make an appointment with your doctor.
Strep throat symptoms usually improve within 3-5 days regardless of treatment, but that doesn’t mean you should skip the antibiotics.
Prescription medication helps manage the infection and slows the spread, protecting your family and community. It also reduces the risk of complications, such as rheumatic fever (a type of severe inflammation) and kidney damage.
While strep throat can sometimes resolve on its own, the risks of not treating it, including prolonged contagiousness and serious complications, outweigh the benefits of avoiding prescription antibiotics.
Antibiotics sometimes get a bad rap, largely due to concerns about antibiotic resistance. However, strep throat antibiotics are appropriate and effective.
There are two main reasons for that:
First, the two most commonly prescribed antibiotics, penicillin and amoxicillin, are particularly effective against streptococcus bacteria. Second, taking antibiotics helps reduce the length and severity of the infection so you’re less likely to experience complications.
A third benefit is that antibiotics make you less contagious. You can go to work and engage in other activities without worrying about getting friends or loved ones sick.
Strep throat causes symptoms similar to other infections, like the cold and flu. The best way to confirm your illness is to make an appointment with our caring team, especially if you develop symptoms like a sore throat, swollen tonsils, or white patches at the back of your throat.
After discussing your symptoms, examining your throat, and completing a bacterial culture, we can confirm a diagnosis and prescribe antibiotics to help you feel better fast.
Visiting our clinic typically takes less than a half-hour, but it’s worth the investment and much less risky than self-diagnosis and hoping for the best.
Strep throat rarely turns into something more serious, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re concerned that you or your child has strep throat, don’t wait to schedule an evaluation.
Call our office at 303-351-1800 or book online today. We can determine if you have strep throat and prescribe antibiotics to help you feel better and protect those around you.
