Urgent Care Strep Throat
Quick Strep Throat Testing

Urgent Care for Strep Throat at NovaMed

It’s both uncomfortable & concerning to deal with a sore throat. Viral infections cause some throat issues. Others are bacterial and require immediate treatment, such as strep throat. At NovaMed Urgent Care, we provide quick & accurate strep throat testing, so that you get the treatment you need to avoid complications. Our healthcare professionals diagnose and treat your symptoms in a timely & efficient manner.

What is Strep Throat?

Strep throat is a commonly occurring bacterial infection. Group A Streptococcus bacteria are its cause & can affect the throat along with the tonsils. It is extremely contagious & generally spreads through airborne droplets. This means that you can get it if an infected person coughs or sneezes near you. Strep throat can affect anyone. However, you can find it more commonly among children aged 5 to 15.

Let’s have a look at some of its symptoms:

• Severe sore throat worsening when swallowing
• Fever, generally above 101°F
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• White or yellow spots on the tonsils or back of the throat
• Red, bumpy rash as in scarlet fever
• Nausea or vomiting, specifically in children

You can treat strep throat with antibiotics. However, you may have to face serious complications in case you don’t get proper treatment. For instance, you may acquire rheumatic fever (which can damage your heart valves) & kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis). Therefore, you must get urgent care for strep throat if you experience symptoms.

5 Things You Should Know About It

You may have more than just a common cold if you’re dealing with a sore throat. Strep throat needs prompt attention to avoid complications. Let’s look at five important things to know about strep throat & why timely treatment matters:

• It is a Highly Contagious Disease: The bacteria that cause this condition, streptococcus, spread rapidly through droplets released from a sick person’s body when they cough and sneeze. Also, it can be accelerated by touching a contaminated surface or a person’s face. Therefore, it’s really important to maintain good hygiene & avoid close contact with a sick person. Cleanliness is a very valuable thing.

• The Symptoms Are More Than Just a Normal Pain: Many of us have certainly experienced this pain, but when it comes to urgent care for a strep test, the situation requires a little more attention. In fact, some different symptoms can be seen.

• Possible Threats If Left Untreated: It is also important to treat for another reason: kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever, which can affect the heart. It can cause serious health complications such as these. Therefore, it is very important that you get medical attention immediately by going to urgent care as soon as you suspect that you have the infection.

• Antibiotics are the Key to Treatment: Treatment should include giving an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. Thus, you can reduce symptoms & the spread of the infection. Early treatment will reduce the duration of the disease & complications.

• Rapid Tests Can Give You Results in Minutes: An urgent care clinic can give you results in just a few minutes. In fact, it can only take a few minutes to determine if an infection of this nature is present. Essentially, this can be done by taking a simple, rapid swab. You can be on your way to treatment and recovery much sooner.

How Does a Rapid Strep Test Work?

A rapid strep test is a quick way to confirm strep throat. We take a swab from the back of your throat in this process. Then we test it for detecting the group A Streptococcus bacteria. You’ll receive results within 10 to 15 minutes.

We’ll start your antibiotic treatment immediately if the rapid test comes back positive. However, we may suggest a throat culture for further confirmation in case your symptoms suggest strep throat, even though your test is negative. Obviously, we’ll need a little longer, but you’ll get an accurate result.

Treatment for Strep Throat

Our healthcare provider will generally prescribe antibiotics if your strep throat test is positive. It can effectively treat your infection & speed up your recovery. You have to take the full course of antibiotics, even if you start feeling better before your course completion. It can result in a relapse or resistance to the antibiotics in case you do so.

You can also manage your symptoms with over-the-counter pain relievers along with antibiotics. For instance, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower fever and pain. Moreover, you can soothe your sore throat by drinking warm liquids & gargling with salt water.

However, in case your symptoms persist despite treatment and you’re unsure whether you have mono throat or strep throat, our professionals will diagnose & provide you with the exact treatment at NovaMed Urgent Care.

Hygienic Practices to Prevent Strep Throat

You can protect yourself & others from strep throat by following these simple hygiene practices.

• Wash your hands more often, specifically after coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with sick & recovering patients.
• Cover your mouth & nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Disinfect surfaces such as door handles & phones every day.

Get Your Strep Throat Test at NovaMed Urgent Care Today

Get tested today at NovaMed Urgent Care if you’re experiencing symptoms of strep throat. Our experienced team provides fast & reliable results & gets you on the path to recovery. In fact, we’ll assist you when you need us most because we offer walk-in care even in extended hours. Therefore, call us now at (847) 939-3139 or visit our clinic in Chicago, IL.