Strep Throat Treatment in Rochester, NY

Kids and adults alike are all susceptible to strep throat. This highly contagious disease comes from a bacteria called group A Streptococcus. Group A strep can actually live within the nose or throat without causing any sort of harm to its host. These bacteria only become a problem when they come into contact with an infected person. This transfer can happen any time and is quite easily spread through coughing, sneezing, sharing dishes or utensils, etc.

If you suspect that your child has been experiencing symptoms of strep throat it is important that you schedule an appointment as soon as possible. The board-certified pediatricians at Lewis Pediatrics are dedicated to providing the best treatment of strep throat for children in Brighton, Marietta & Rochester, NY. To schedule an appointment, please contact our office at (585) 442-1421.

What are the Common Symptoms of Strep?

Since strep throat is a very common disease it is important to know its symptoms, which consist of:

Although many patients report them as symptoms of strep, a cough, runny nose, and hoarseness all have nothing to do with strep throat. These are signs of another possible illness, which could be occurring along with a case of strep, but is not connected to strep in any way.

It is wise to go see Dr. Edward Lewis if you believe yourself to be sick with strep throat. Untreated cases of strep can develop to cause several serious health problems such as:

How do you Diagnose Strep?

Most doctors follow the same basic process when a patient comes in with a possible case of strep throat. First, they will conduct a rapid strep test.

A rapid strep test involves taking a swab from the back of the patient’s throat and then testing this sample for particular substances that are associated with strep throat. Within minutes, the rapid strep test will show whether or not the patient has strep.

Some people can experience a false negative from their rapid strep test. If the results of the rapid strep test are inconclusive, then the physician will do a throat culture. A throat culture requires the same kind of swab from the back of the patient’s throat, which is then placed in a petri dish for a couple of days. Over time, the sample may begin to grow inside of the petri dish, which concludes that the individual who provided the sample does indeed have strep throat.

Strep Throat Treatment in Brighton & Marietta, NY

Thankfully, strep throat is quite easy to treat using antibiotics. After 24 hours of taking these antibiotics, you will no longer be contagious. This does not mean that you can stop taking the prescribed antibiotics.

In order to be fully effective and prevent the person’s strep throat from immediately returning, they must finish the entire supply of antibiotics prescribed to them. This period usually lasts for about 10 days.

It is also possible to relieve common symptoms of strep throat, particularly a sore throat, by taking over-the-counter medications such as anti-inflammatories. This will help to reduce the swelling of the tonsils, which can make speaking and eating much more manageable.

How to Prevent Strep Throat

The best way to avoid catching strep throat from another person is to practice daily healthy habits, such as: