Strep Throat Treatment in Alexandria, VA

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 your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, contact ALL Pediatrics to meet with our pediatricians and start your child’s treatment. To schedule your child’s strep throat treatment, please call (703) 436-1200 to schedule an appointment at one of our pediatric clinics in Lorton, Woodbridge or Alexandria, VA today!

Symptoms of Strep Throat

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

• A sore throat
• Pain upon swallowing
• Fever
• Very swollen tonsils that may also have white or yellow spots
• Small red spots, known as petechiae, located on the roof of the mouth
• Swollen lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck
• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Nausea and vomiting

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 see your pediatrician at ALL Pediatrics if you believe yourself to be sick with strep throat. Untreated cases of strep can develop to cause several serious health problems such as:

• Infection of the tonsils, sinuses, skin, blood, or middle ear
• Scarlet fever
• Inflammation of the kidneys
• Rheumatic fever

Diagnosing Strep Throat

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.

Treatment Options

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.

Tips for Prevention

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

• Frequently washing your hands
• Staying hydrated
• Get plenty of sleep
• Utilizing a humidifier
• Gargle with saltwater if you begin to notice any throat pain
• Consume foods that are easy to swallow
• Avoid potentially irritating substances like cigarette smoke or fumes from cleaning products