Strep throat, which is an infection due to streptococcus bacteria, is one cause of sore throats. It can be a bad one. With strep throat, the sore throat is often more severe and persists. A sore throat is viral. Strep is bacterial.
8 Signs That You May Have Strep Throat:
- Severe fatigue
- Temperatures of over 101.9 F
- Body Aches and Pains
- White spots appearing on the back of your throat
- Extreme red throat
- Trouble swallowing
- Swollen Lymph Nodes
- Loss of Appetite
At times a rash and an upset stomach and/or nausea can be present as well.
How do we know for sure that you have strep throat? At our West Hartford urgent care center, we will test you for strep with a “rapid strep test”. Results are immediate, usually within 5-10 minutes. If positive we would treat with an antibiotic, and possibly Ibuprofen to ease the discomfort. At times the rapid strep test can give what’s known as a “false negative” result. In this case the provider would use his or her judgement about whether to test further with a throat culture sent to the lab, or if all the other symptoms are in place they may treat, as though the patient does have the infection.
Is Strep Throat Contagious?
Yes, it is. Strep throat normally afflicts school age children and teens, and spreads by person-to-person contact with fluids from the nose or saliva. It commonly spreads among family or household members and for school children it is especially contagious within the school environment.
Therefore we urge anyone who thinks they might suffering from strep throat to come in and be tested and if positive, treated. Once you have been on an antibiotic for 24 hours you are no longer contagious.
Stop the spread of strep! If not treated, strep can morph into a more serious infection, sometimes affecting the kidneys. It is worth it to be tested if you suspect you or your child might be infected.
Come in and be tested today. Either check in online, or walk right in, 7 days a week, no appointment needed.
