Treatment for Strep Throat

If your doctor runs tests and diagnoses you with strep throat, he will usually prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics shorten the time that you are contagious and they lessen the possibility that you will develop serious complications, like rheumatic fever.

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Antibiotics for strep throat don't necessarily shorten the time that you are ill. However, if you start the medicine within 48-72 hours after your symptoms begin, the medicine WILL help to relieve your symptoms of strep throat , and it will prevent your getting rheumatic fever.

On the other hand, if you don't get antibiotics, your untreated strep throat can be contagious for 2 to 3 weeks—even if you don't have any more symptoms.

In addition to taking antibiotics, your doctor may also recommend nonprescription medicines such as acetaminophen or anesthetic throat sprays to help relieve the pain and discomfort caused by strept throat . Acetaminophen, or Tylenol, will also reduce your fever.

Once started on antibiotics, you should begin to feel better within a day or so. If you don't feel better in 48 hours, you should probably give your doctor a call.

When taking an antibiotic, it is important to make sure that you take ALL of the medicine prescribed for you. This is important because, if your body is not totally healed, the bacteria can develop a resistance and give you a more severe infection, which is now resistant to antibiotics. You could end up with kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever.

Do you have a question that you would like to ask a doctor? You can get an answer quickly by using doctors online advice.

Sore Throat Remedies for Strep Throat

• Drink warm liquids. Honey or lemon tea is a time-tested remedy.

• Cold liquids can also be soothing to a sore throat. Drink ice water or suck on a popsicle.

• Gargle 3 times a day with warm salt water (½ teaspoon of salt to 1 cup water)

• Adults can suck on throat lozenges or hard candy. Small children risk choking, so this remedy is not for them!

• Cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to add moisture to the air.

For most of you, treatment for strep throat will be prescribed by your physician. If antibiotics are prescribed, make sure you take all of them. Many practitioners recommend Lactobacillus acidophilus to offset the suppressive effects of antibiotics on the beneficial bacteria of the intestines.

And, for most, your symptoms will be gone within a few days, and you will no longer be contagious and exposing others to the illness.

Lastly, keep in mind that, if you have a sore throat, you may also have swine flu and swine flu symptoms can be confused with strep symptoms. Because H1N1 can be much more serious than strep, make sure that you know EXACTLY what you are dealing with!

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