The rapid antigen test provides results the same day. Strep throat usually gets better by itself in about three to five days. Antibiotics can help keep you from spreading it to other people and can prevent some rare complications.
If you take antibiotics, you may feel better about one day sooner than if you didn't take medicine. If someone in your home has symptoms of strep throat, he or she should be tested. Only those who test positive need to be treated. Most people start to feel better 24 hours after taking antibiotics.
Most people who do not take antibiotics feel better within three to five days. Children may return to school and adults to work 24 hours after starting antibiotics. Call your doctor if your symptoms don't start to improve within three days. If you get a rash or have trouble breathing after taking antibiotics, call your doctor right away. Sometimes a different antibiotic is needed, or you may have an infection other than strep throat that needs a different type of treatment. If you are feeling better, a follow-up visit is not usually needed.
It may help if you have repeat episodes of severe strep throat. But doctors aren't sure if having fewer infections is worth the risks of surgery. Already a member or subscriber? 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. These items are safe for others to use once washed. Take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. We want to hear from you. Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only.
You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. Financial assistance for medically necessary services is based on family income and hospital resources and is provided to children under age 21 whose primary residence is in Washington, Alaska, Montana or Idaho. For more information, see Website Privacy. Skip to navigation menu Skip to content. High Priority Alert. Close alert. Informational Alert. It often produces no symptoms….
Strep throat is a common bacterial infection that typically leads to a sore, scratchy throat. Sometimes, it can also cause a rash. Several other…. How long does strep throat last? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. How contagious? Is treatment needed? Treatment Symptoms Cause Diagnosis Risk factors Prevention Complications Seeing a doctor Summary Once a person has contracted the group A Streptococcus bacteria, they can become ill after roughly 2—5 days.
How long is a person contagious? Share on Pinterest After 1—2 days of taking antibiotics, a person with strep throat should start to feel better. Will it resolve by itself? What is the treatment for strep throat? What are the symptoms? What causes strep throat? Risk factors. When to see a doctor.
0コメント