Strep Throat

Worried that sore throat may be strep?

 

Your child woke up complaining of a scratchy throat and is having difficulty swallowing. Is this just a run-of-the-mill sore throat, or could it be strep? Head into Haven Elite Urgent Care today to know for sure. We can run a rapid strep test to determine if that sore throat is strep throat and prescribe antibiotics if needed.

Woman doctor examining little girl mouth for strep throat

What is strep throat?

Strep throat is a contagious infection of the throat and tonsils caused by group A streptococcus bacteria. These bacteria spread easily through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can get strep by breathing in these droplets, touching a doorknob where they are present, or by sharing food or drinks with someone who is sick. The illness is most prevalent in children and commonly occurs during late fall and early spring.

Strep Throat Symptoms

  • Sore throat and difficulty swallowing
  • Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches
  • Tiny red spots at the back of your mouth
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the front of your neck
  • Headache
  • Fever

Other, less common symptoms include body aches, nausea and vomiting, and a specific rash known as scarlet fever.

How We Diagnose and Treat Strep Throat

If you or your child is suffering from any symptoms that may indicate strep, it’s important to see a medical provider. Untreated strep throat can cause serious complications such as kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever.

Walk into Haven Elite Urgent Care in Rancho Cucamonga, CA today for any concerning symptoms. We are open 7 days a week and offer fast on-site strep testing. A provider can perform a physical exam and run a simple rapid antigen test to detect strep bacteria. He or she will swab your throat and test the swab to see if any antigens are present, with results available in just a few minutes.

If the test is positive, we can prescribe a course of antibiotics to fight the infection. Antibiotics can lessen the severity of your symptoms, reduce the duration of the infection, and prevent the spread of infection to others. With treatment, you should start to feel better within 1-2 days.

If the rapid strep test is negative, but strep throat still seems likely, your provider may also take a throat culture swab.