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Strep Throat

Everyone’s had a classic cold, which normally comes with a scratchy, sore, or swollen throat. It’s never fun to have this common cold symptom, as it makes swallowing, talking, and even breathing more difficult than normal.

However, even though this is a very common malady, there may be a deeper and more serious underlying cause for your sore throat. This is why it’s important for you to see a quality healthcare provider about your sore throat as soon as you can. You never know, it may be caused by something more serious than a cold, like strep throat.

Treatment for Sore Throats and Strep

What Are the Symptoms?

Strep throat is a nasty sickness that can be much more serious than the common cold, even though some of the symptoms are very similar or identical. Strep is particularly dangerous in young children and the elderly, so it’s important to get it treated as fast as you can.

Here are a few of the most common symptoms you can expect to experience if you’ve contracted strep throat:

Sore or swollen throat
Aches and fevers
Exhaustion
Swelling in glands
Scratchy or hoarse throat

Even if you have all of the above symptoms, there’s no way to know if it’s strep throat for sure without getting it tested. For this, you should see a healthcare provider right away.

What Causes Strep Throat?

Strep throat is highly contagious and can be contracted in various ways beyond just through coughing or sneezing by an infected person.

Strep bacteria can survive outside the body for hours, allowing particles to spread through coughing, sneezing, or breathing, and remain on surfaces and in the air.

Commonly touched surfaces like doorknobs, bathrooms, and other areas are prone to infection. Since you never know who touched something before you, it’s crucial to wash your hands after being in public or near someone who might be ill.

This infection is much more common in the winter and affects children more than adults on average. Even though only about fifteen percent of sore throats can be attributed to strep throat, it’s still a highly contagious infection that should be treated as quickly as possible.

How To Test and Treat Strep Throats

If you’ve been experiencing a persistent sore throat that hasn’t improved with common remedies, along with symptoms like fever or muscle aches, it’s important to see a healthcare professional promptly. They can perform a strep test to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe antibiotics to effectively treat the infection.

Call Southwest Urgent Care at 346-341-7573 to schedule an appointment and receive treatment for strep throat before it can spread to those you care about.