Fairfield, CT- Millions of people suffer strep throat yearly at the end of the winter season. According to the CDC, invasive strep throat affects over 13,000 people yearly and can have severe implications for their health. Notably, many people who get strep throat don't make an effort to figure out what their main symptoms are and what treatments are available.
Strep throat can cause many health problems if not treated immediately, particularly among young children. If a parent thinks their child might have strep throat or have signs of it, it's crucial to take them to an urgent care center immediately. In addition, an urgent care center is an excellent choice for budget-friendly medical services faster and cheaper than an emergency room.
Identifying the strep symptoms is essential to getting the treatment it requires. DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield, CT shares what people need to know to identify and treat strep throat in Fairfield, CT.
Common Signs of Strep Throat
Mayo Clinic and other reputable healthcare organizations have studied and created a list of guidelines for diagnosing strep throat. Unfortunately, many confuse strep throat with the common cold or flu because of its common symptoms.
However, some signs are unique to strep throat, and one should keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
- Tonsils that are swollen and red, sometimes with pus-filled white spots
- Tiny red patches on the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)
- Inflamed lymph nodes at the front part of the neck
- Rashes
- Fever
- Signs of nausea and vomiting, most commonly in newborns and young children
- Body pain
- Discomfort when swallowing
Those experiencing any combination of the abovementioned signs and symptoms should see a specialist in Fairfield for a precise diagnosis. For example, if people think they have strep throat, their best bet for treatment is undoubtedly an urgent care clinic in Fairfield.
What Causes Strep Throat?
Strep throat infection is mainly caused by Group A streptococcus bacteria, also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. The illness spreads easily and rapidly. Droplets in the air from a sick person's coughing or sneezing can carry the disease to those who inhale them. In addition, infections can quickly spread by close contact with an infected person, such as through sharing food or drinks or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their nose or mouth.
How Strep Throat Spreads
Strep throat-causing bacteria usually stays in the throat and nose of the infected person. This bacteria can quickly spread to another person by simply talking, sneezing, or coughing, creating droplets that carry the strep bacteria. These bacteria can also spread from getting in contact with someone’s infected skin sores. Exposure to the bacteria doesn't mean that one will get sick immediately. Typically, it takes 2 to 5 days to get sick with strep throat.
It's crucial to understand that some affected people don't show any signs of illness on the spot. However, individuals with strep symptoms are much more likely to spread it than those who don't.
An individual can get strep throat if they:
- Inhale respiratory droplets which have bacteria in them.
- Touch a surface with respiratory droplets and then touch their nose or mouth.
- Drink or eat from the same plate or glass as someone infected with strep bacteria.
- Contact with skin sores of someone infected with Group A strep bacteria.
How Professionals Diagnose Strep Throat?
A physician will ask the patient about their symptoms and do a physical exam to determine what kind of illness they have. If they believe the patient might have strep throat, they will test for it by swabbing the patient’s throat. There are two kinds of strep throat tests: the rapid strep test and the throat culture test.
A throat swab is taken for a rapid strep test and then examined. The test shows quickly if Group A streptococcus bacteria caused the sickness. Doctors can give antibiotics if the test comes back positive. If the strep test comes back negative, but the doctor is still worried about strep throat, they can take a swab of the throat to look for bacteria. It takes time for a throat culture to show if the swab contains strep bacteria. A throat culture test takes longer, but it can sometimes find infections that a quick strep test overlooks.
Visit an Urgent Care Center in Fairfield for Strep Treatment
An urgent care center is an excellent place for people of all ages to get treatment for strep throat. When a patient needs immediate care, the specialists at DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield, CT, are ready to diagnose the symptoms and develop a treatment plan that fits their needs.
Regarding non-emergency medical conditions like strep throat, urgent care centers are just as good as hospitals or the emergency room. Technicians can do x-rays and lab tests that help figure out how severe a person's health needs are.
To see how DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield shares child's common illnesses & treatments, read this story: https://docsmedicalgroup.com/docs-urgent-care-fairfield-press-release/#/media-room/article/117261/docs-urgent-care-primary-care-fairfield-childs-common-illnesses-treatments
About DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield, CT
DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield is Connecticut's source for treating conditions, ailments, and urgent medical needs for people of all ages. Open every day of the year, with extended weekday and weekend hours. The DOCS is the go-to source for all of Fairfield's primary care needs.
