Antibiotics reduce the time strep throat is contagious to about 1 day. However, the actual contagion period varies from person to person. People will remain contagious until the antibiotics have killed enough bacteria to reduce the transmission risk. A person should ask a doctor about how long to avoid other people and consider staying home until symptoms have disappeared.
A person should stay away from other people until they have been without fever, and not using fever medication, for at least 24 hours. It is important to take antibiotics that specifically target group A strep bacteria. Strep throat is more common among school-aged children and the adults who work with them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. Check any signs of strep throat with a doctor. The main symptoms are fever, swollen lymph nodes, and throat pain — usually without a cough.
The sooner a person takes antibiotics, the less likely they are to transmit the infection to someone else. The last three symptoms may be signs of a complication of strep throat called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Very rarely, a person may have a severe allergic reaction to antibiotics. Swelling of the face or throat, having trouble breathing, or experiencing seizures may be signs of a life threatening reaction.
If a person experiences these symptoms, they should call or go to the emergency room. People who have any symptoms of strep or another illness should assume they are contagious and avoid close contact with others. They should not wait for a doctor to confirm the infection or for a medical diagnosis. With proper treatment, strep can go away in just a few days.
Your doctor will have you take the pills or liquid for 10 days. It's really important to take all 10 days of the medicine to make sure all the bad bacteria are gone. If you don't, you could get sick all over again. Your mom or dad may give you acetaminophen say: uh-see-tuh-MIN-uh-fin to get rid of aches, pains, and fever. You'll want to have soothing drinks, like tea and warm chicken soup. Frozen foods like ice cream or popsicles also can help to ease throat pain.
Avoid spicy and acidic foods, such as orange juice, because they could hurt your tender throat. Your doctor will tell you to stay home from school until you have been taking the antibiotic for at least 24 hours. This way, you won't spread the bacteria to others. Strep throat is very contagious, and anybody can get it. It happens a lot in kids and teens, especially during the school year when big groups of kids are together.
Finally, consider seeking medical advice if a person has been treated for strep throat and has not improved within 4 to 5 days. Although some of these signs and symptoms may be related to a strep throat infection, they can also be indicators of other emergent conditions such as peritonsillar abscess, epiglottitis, tracheitis, or retropharyngeal abscess. If you receive antibiotic treatment for your strep throat, your illness may only last for one to three days.
If left untreated, recovery will take longer, and your risk for developing complications will increase. Additionally, without treatment, you can still be contagious for several weeks, even after you stop feeling sick. Our staff works to provide prompt, personal, and professional care for all of our patients.
We strive to provide the attention patients need in as quick a time as possible. Our three walk-in clinics are:. Disclaimer The information contained on this webpage is for educational purposes as well as to provide general information and general understanding of the pertinent medical issue only, not to provide a specific diagnosis.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Primary Care. Mental Health. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots. It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close. Erin Heger. Strep throat is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily from person to person.
Strep throat spreads through respiratory droplets, so it can be passed through sneezes, coughs, sharing food or drinks, or touching surfaces that are infected. Strep throat is most contagious while you have symptoms and in the two to five days after you're infected, which can be before symptoms appear.
Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice. Erin Heger is a freelance journalist located in the Kansas City area.
She primarily covers stories related to healthcare policy, maternal mental health, parenting, and personal finance. Her work been featured in The Atlantic, Rewire.
0コメント