Strep Throat

Strep Throat services offered in Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows and Mt. Prospect, IL

Strep throat has the hallmark symptom of appearing quickly and causing a sudden, painful sore throat. If you suspect strep, don’t wait to seek treatment at NewMed Immediate Care in Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, and Prospect, Illinois. Early treatment reduces strep throat's severity and duration and lowers your risk of health complications. The team welcomes walk-in patients, but you can call or connect online to schedule an appointment.

What is strep throat?

Strep throat is an infection caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes. By comparison, most sore throats are viral infections occurring when you have a cold.

Strep is highly contagious because it can spread through direct contact and the air. When someone with an infection coughs, sneezes, or talks, bacterial-filled droplets fly through the air. Or, the bacteria get on your hands and then transfer to anything you touch.

Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware they’re spreading the bacteria because strep is contagious several days before symptoms appear.

What symptoms will I have?

One clue you have a strep infection rather than a more common sore throat is that strep seems to appear suddenly and causes severe pain.

Symptoms of strep throat include:

Pain
Difficulty swallowing
Red, swollen tonsils
Red spots on the back of your mouth
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Headache
Skin rash
Body aches
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting

If you or your child have signs of strep throat, it’s essential to get treatment as soon as possible. Strep infection can lead to other inflammatory conditions like kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever.

It’s time to seek help at NewMed Immediate Care if you:

Suspect strep (based on your symptoms)
Have a sore throat lasting longer than 48 hours
Have a sore throat plus a rash and/or swollen glands
Have difficulty breathing

You should also call the team if you were diagnosed with strep throat and it doesn’t improve after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.

How is strep throat diagnosed?

The experienced NewMed Immediate Care team can often identify strep throat with a visual examination. However, to be sure, they may do a rapid strep test. After swabbing a sample from your throat, the test only takes a few minutes to reveal strep bacteria.

How is strep throat treated?

Your NewMed Immediate Care provider prescribes antibiotics to eliminate the infection. Taking antibiotics within the first 48 hours reduces the severity of your symptoms, shortens the infection time, and lowers the risk of complications.

Your provider will also recommend over-the-counter treatments like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to relieve symptoms and reduce fever. Children and teens should never take aspirin because it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening condition.

Don’t wait to get help for strep throat. Call NewMed Immediate Care, book online, or go to the nearest office today.