There are bacteria that commonly infect the throat, causing inflammation in the throat. This is a difficult condition for a person because various activities related to the throat will be difficult to do. One of the disease is strep throat, and here we will see how long does strep throat last. Lets go!
Sore throat is a type of disease caused by bacteria named Streptococcus pyogenes, sometimes in the medical world it is also known as Streptococcus group A.
Disease in the throat called strep throat is a disease that can occur suddenly. This condition is very disturbing and not comfortable at all. So, if you are wondering how long does strep throat lasts, it is important to know, considering that its presence in the throat can be very difficult and uncomfortable.
To answer your question is a bit difficult because there is no specific standard that determines a person can be cured. The duration of strep throat that occurs in a person can vary because this depends on several factors.
The length of time strep throat infects a person depends on several factors. Among them are a person’s health condition, immunity, the treatment process, and also a person’s age.
So, the duration of this infection varies from person to person. You don’t have to worry, as long as you handle it quickly, sore throat will heal quickly.
In this article, we will explain the main problem, namely how long does strep throat last, how it differs from other throat diseases, how it is treated and when you should see a doctor for maximum treatment. Read on until the end, we will present everything in a language that is easy for you to understand.
How Long Does Strep Throat Last?
As we have already mentioned that strep throat is a disease that can occur at any time and suddenly.
If you feel an unbearable fever and sore throat, then immediately contact a doctor to find a solution and so that you quickly find out whether it is strep throat or not. So, you will get the treatment quickly.
Antibiotics are one that is given to relieve throat problems, but you must pass a diagnosis first. Antibiotics are said to be very good given within 48 hours. Then you must quickly diagnose the problem that occurs.
Sore throat usually goes away on its own within a week to 10 days. Usually in the first 2-3 days you will feel the most difficult times in experiencing sore throat.
Strep Throat, Is It Contagious?
In the medical world, strep throat is known as streptococcal pharyngitis, and it is a highly contagious disease. So be careful not to infect your family.
Among the ways of transmission are by sharing equipment with those who are infected, or by sharing food. So, you should be careful in what you usually do together with people with strep throat.
It is also transmitted by coughing, as occurs in coughing, can also be transmitted through sneezing and saliva.
Touching the eyes, nose, mouth of the sufferer can also cause transmission. So, every time you interact with sufferers, you should wash your hands and every part of the body involved.
How Long is Strep Throat Contagious?
A person who is infected with strep throat bacteria usually does not get sick within 2 to 5 days. Means this disease does not attack immediately, but after a few days of infection. It is very difficult to guess why we are infected, we sometimes forget we have interacted with anyone before. 5 days is a long time, this makes it sometimes difficult for a person to remember when he had interacted with the first sufferer.
The period when a person is infected but there is no reaction to the disease is called the incubation period. And at this time you can also infect other people, even when you have not shown any symptoms, it is possible to infect other people.
Recovery Period
After you are attacked or infected with strep throat, usually on the third day you start to feel there is an improvement in your health. Or 3 days after you take antibiotics.
However, if you find your health condition has not changed after 3 days, or there is no change for the better at 7 to 10 days. This is very worrying, see a doctor immediately and talk about your condition.
Usually, antibiotics for sore throat recovery are prescribed for 10 days. Most people feel that by day 10 they have improved and there are no symptoms left.
However, even if you feel there is a change for the better, you should still take the drug as long as the drug is still recommended by the doctor. Stopping the medication quickly can sometimes cause strep throat to recur, and this will be increasingly difficult to treat.
So follow the doctor’s advice, even if you feel healed, if your doctor tells you to take medicine, then you should still take it.
Symptoms of Strep Throat
To be more careful with strep throat and treat it faster, we need to know what the symptoms may be.
Among the symptoms that are very common in people with strep throat are:
- Sore throat is severe and occurs suddenly
- Fever with a body temperature of at least 101 F
- When you swallow food or drink you feel severe pain
- Small red spots on the back of the throat or on the roof of the mouth
- Headaches can also accompany when you are infected with strep throat
- Body feels sore
- Lymph nodes are swollen and feel tender or weak
- Abdominal pain and nausea, such symptoms are very susceptible to seen in children.
Strep Throat vs. Sore Throat
In addition to strep throat, there is also a disease that infects the throat called sore throat. What is the difference between the two and what infects sore throat.
There are many causes of sore throat but most of them are caused by viruses. Sore throat often comes on suddenly, and is accompanied by fever.
Sore throat there are several models, there is called a milder sore throat, this is a type of sore throat that occurs gradually. This can also occur accompanied by coughing, hoarseness of voice, and runny nose. This is more likely to be caused by a virus.
The team of doctors should do a quick strep test to find out if you have strep throat or other sore throats.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses and can be treated with antibiotics. But if what happens is strep throat then it must get serious treatment.
If the test result is negative for sore throat, then a test for the bacteria that causes it must be carried out, sometimes the patient has an inflammatory disease.
Those who are particularly susceptible to strep throat are children aged 5 to 15 years. But this is not a guarantee because everyone can also experience problems like this.
Sore throats are caused by viruses, and can also be caused by other causes and can occur at any age.
If the child is under 3 years old, then strep throat is very unlikely to occur. So, for children that age is not recommended for the treatment and examination of inflammation.
Treatments for Strep Throat
If you are proven to have strep throat, then what are the treatment steps? Sore throat is a disease caused by a bacterial infection. To prevent complications, inflammation is usually treated with antibiotics.
There are three antibiotics that are very often recommended by doctors to be given to patients. The three types of antibiotics are:
Penicillin:
Penicillin is one of the antibiotics and this drug has a dose ranging from 250 mg (twice a day) to even a dose of 500 mg (twice a day but depending on age). The use of these antibiotics is generally used only in 10 days.
Amoxicillin:
The antibiotic amoxicillin has a dose based on the child’s weight. This drug is prescribed 2-3 times a day. Amoxicillin for adults in a dose of 500 mg, taken twice a day for 10 days. There is also a dose of 1000 mg but taken once a day and taken for 10 days.
Cephalexin:
There is also a form of the antibiotic cephalexin. If the patient is allergic, especially to antibiotics such as penicillin, then the patient can be advised cephalexin. The dose is based on the child’s weight. The standard dose for adults is 500 mg, taken 2 times a day for 10 days.
Pain and discomfort from sore throat can also be treated with pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can also try natural remedies to treat and reduce sore throat pain. These natural remedies include hot teas, mouthwashes, and using lozenges.
When to See a Doctor
If you have strep throat, when should you go to the doctor?
This you should do if suddenly you experience pain in the throat and you are worried about inflammation. Discuss your problem with the treating doctor.
In most cases, sore throat will go away on its own. Using antibiotics can reduce sore throats after 3 days of use. Then this can help you to recover quickly.
In addition to speeding up healing, the use of antibiotics can also prevent complications of other diseases. So, it is important for you to take the appropriate antibiotics.
If you have difficulty swallowing, speaking, or breathing, you should seek emergency care. You can go to the hospital and get more accurate treatment.
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FAQs about Strep Throat
How long does it take for a sore throat to heal?
As many as 85% of cases that occur that strep throat will heal within 10 days. While antibiotic treatment is important to prevent complications and reduce the pain you experience. Among the forms of complications that can occur are serious rheumatism.
Why does strep throat not go away?
Taking antibiotics is to avoid complications. If you do not recover after 10 days and your body temperature is at 101 F, then you should take medication seriously and talk to your doctor.
Usually, strep throat will get better after 3 days but you should still take the medicine for up to 10 days because the healing can take 10 days as in most cases.
How long have you been contagious for strep throat?
We know that strep throat is a very contagious disease and the transmission period is very fast, but the symptoms may be slow. If you are infected today, it will take 2-5 days to show symptoms. You are considered no longer transmit this bacteria, after 24 hours you take antibiotics.
