Impacting your ability to eat, talk, and breathe, having a sore throat is certainly no picnic. In some cases, the problem may be due to a common cold and will go away with rest and over-the-counter treatment. But in other situations, the issue may be caused by a more complicated infection known as strep throat. Sparked by the Streptococcus bacteria, this irritating infection typically requires care from a professional physician. If you’re worried about your throat, here are a few important facts to know about detecting and treating strep.

Who Gets Strep?

Strep throat is highly contagious, so anyone can catch it. However, it is more common among children than adults. Sharing objects with an infected individual or having a compromised immune system can also increase your risk of catching the illness.

What Are Common Signs of Strep Throat?

Just as with a viral infection—such as the common cold—strep causes a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. However, strep throat tends to be different in that it causes fever, swollen tonsils, discharge around the tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, and red spotting near the top of the mouth. Coughing and congestion are not common signs of strep and usually indicate the presence of a viral infection.

How Is Strep Throat Diagnosed?

While you might have recognizable signs of strep throat, the only way to officially diagnose the condition is to visit a physician for testing. Primary care doctors and clinics will either take a 24-hour throat culture or perform a rapid three-minute strep test to detect the presence of the bacteria.

How Do Physicians Treat Strep Throat?

If a throat culture or rapid test indicates a strep infection, your physician will prescribe antibiotics. These drugs are designed to kill the bacteria causing the infection and gradually relieve symptoms. To ensure the best results, it is critical to complete the entire course of antibiotics—even if your symptoms have gone away. Rest, drinking lots of water, and proper hygiene will also help support the recovery process.

When you have strep throat, the sooner you can see a physician for treatment, the sooner you can experience relief. That’s why Taylor Regional Hospital Walk-In Clinic makes it simple for Campbellsville, KY, residents to get the health care they need. Without a need for an appointment, this walk-in clinic will provide you with rapid medical testing and appropriate prescription treatments to help put the infection to rest. To learn more about these and other services they offer, visit this compassionate medical clinic online or call a friendly staff member at (270) 849-2379.