Strep Throat Medical Clinic

When you or your child have a sudden sore throat, you want to have it looked at. While not always, it may be strep throat, especially if there are some other symptoms with it. Treatment for it is available, but visiting a strep throat medical clinic 11218 will help you to know for sure and get treatment, too.

Symptoms Of Strep Throat

Most of the time, a sore throat is not going to be strep throat. If it is, you will notice some of the following symptoms:

A sore throat that develops suddenly
Tonsils that are darker red with white spots
Fever
Pain when swallowing
Loss of appetite
Headache
Swollen glands in the neck
Abdominal pain.

Having some of these symptoms is not a sure sign that you have strep throat. You may only have some other type of illness or viral infection.

Diagnosis

If you suspect that you or your child might have strep throat, it is important to go to a strep throat medical clinic 11218 right away. The bacteria that cause strep throat (Streptococcus pyogenes) are very contagious. It is spread through droplets in the air from when someone coughs or sneezes and through shared food and drinks. Bacteria can also be picked up from various surfaces. The individual will be contagious for 24 hours.

At the clinic, the doctor will likely order one or more tests to get an accurate diagnosis. The first one is going to be a rapid antigen test. It is quick and the doctor will only need to get a sample from your throat using a swab. If the results are unsure, a throat culture will be taken. This also involves using a swab at the back of the throat.

Complications

If strep throat is left untreated, patients run the risk of having further undesirable complications. The bacteria can spread, possibly leading to infection in the:

Sinuses
Tonsils
Skin
Blood
Middle ear

Other major complications are also possible. They include:

Kidney inflammation
Scarlet fever
Rheumatic fever – this can cause inflamed joints that are painful, a rash, and possibly heart valve damage.
Inflammation in the joints – arthritis.

Treatment

Treatment for strep throat is going to be antibiotics. It could be delivered as a shot, a pill, or a liquid. With antibiotics, it is important to take all of the medicine, even after feeling better. If all of it is not taken, it can make the bacteria more resistant to treatment.

When to See a Doctor

If you are not sure that you or your child has strep throat, you want to watch for certain symptoms. They include having a sore throat and lymph glands that are swollen and tender; a fever; a sore throat that lasts more than 48 hours; and if there are problems swallowing or breathing.

Quality First Urgent Care has a strep throat medical clinic 11218. We welcome walk-in patients and everyone is seen and treated quickly by our friendly and professional medical staff. Our government-approved lab enables us to conduct many tests and get results quickly. We also are open until 11:00 pm every night – seven days a week for your convenience.