Can you get rid of strep throat without antibiotics

  • Strep Throat Symptoms
    • What Are Symptoms of Strep Throat?
  • Causes
    • What Causes Strep Throat?
  • Diagnosis
    • How Is Strep Throat Diagnosed?
  • Guide
    • Does Strep Throat Go Away on Its Own? Topic Guide

Can you get rid of strep throat without antibiotics

Strep throat is a sore throat caused by a bacterial infection. Strep throat usually goes away on its own within a week, whether treated with antibiotics or not.

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is a common cause of sore throat.

Antibiotics are used to treat strep throat.

  • Penicillin or amoxicillin are first-line choices 
  • Other antibiotics may be used for people allergic to penicillin
  • If antibiotics are prescribed, take the entire dose as prescribed even if you feel better before you have finished all the medication

Strep throat usually goes away on its own within a week with or without antibiotic treatment, but without antibiotics, people may still be contagious for two to three weeks and are at a higher risk for complications.

If a person tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms (is a “carrier”) treatment is often not needed. 

What Causes Strep Throat?

Strep throat is caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep) which live in the nose and throat and can be contagious. When a person infected with strep coughs or sneezes, they release respiratory droplets with the bacteria into the air. 

Strep can be transmitted when people:

  • Inhale the respiratory droplets
  • Touch something with droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose
  • Share glasses, plates, or utensils with an infected person
  • Touch sores on the skin caused by group A strep (impetigo)
  • Eat improperly handled food (rare)

How Is Strep Throat Diagnosed?

Tests used to diagnose strep throat include:

  • A rapid strep test
    • A swab is taken of the throat 
    • Results are usually available in about 15 minutes
  • Throat culture
    • A throat culture swab can take 2-3 days to yield results but is more accurate than a rapid strep test

Can you get rid of strep throat without antibiotics

QUESTION

Just about any painful sore throat is caused by strep. See Answer

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Can you get rid of strep throat without antibiotics

Reviewed on 1/20/2022

References

Image Source: iStock Images

https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.html

https://www.gohealthuc.com/library/strep-throat-home-remedies

  • Treatment
    • How is strep throat treated?
  • What Is It?
    • What is strep throat?
  • Symptoms
    • What are the symptoms of strep throat?
  • Diagnosis
    • How is strep throat diagnosed?
  • Related Resources
    • Related Resources - Can Strep Throat Go Away on Its Own?

Can you get rid of strep throat without antibiotics

Strep throat generally goes away on its own in three to five days; however, antibiotics are still typically prescribed to help reduce the spread of the virus.

Yes, strep throat generally goes away on its own in three to five days.

Nonetheless, antibiotics are generally recommended based on certain lab tests.

  • Many who do not take antibiotics in a confirmed case of strep throat may remain contagious for as long as two weeks and even be at a higher risk of complications. 
  • Because most cases of sore throat are caused by a viral infection, you can not take antibiotics for sore throat unless prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may prescribe you penicillin or other antibiotics related to penicillin for the treatment of strep throat. In case you are allergic to penicillin, your doctor will prescribe another antibiotic.

Treatment with antibiotics not only relieves the symptoms and clears the infection but also reduces the chances of passing on the disease to others.

Treatment for strep throat is important as untreated infection can lead to serious complications, such as:

  • Rheumatic fever (a serious condition causing inflammation of the heart, joints, brain, and skin)
  • Kidney disease (also called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis)
  • Scarlet fever (a condition causing bright red rash all over the body)
  • Joint inflammation (arthritis)
  • Secondary infections (such as viral infections that can make the condition more difficult to manage)
  • Middle ear infection
  • Tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) and peritonsillar abscess (pus collection around the tonsils)
  • Sinusitis
  • Skin infections
  • Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal (PANDAS) infections (neuropsychiatric problems, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and tic symptoms in a child following a strep infection) are a very rare complication proposed due to strep infection; many experts even debate its existence

How is strep throat treated?

The treatment of strep throat includes:

  • Antibiotics (such as penicillin, amoxicillin, or other antibiotics in case of allergy to penicillin)
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen)
  • Saltwater gargles (one-fourth to half teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water)
  • Drink plenty of fluids
  • Hard candies or lozenges to manage throat irritation or dryness (avoid giving to young children, you may give them popsicles or cold liquids instead)

What is strep throat?

Strep throat is a type of throat infection caused by the bacteria called group A streptococcus. This bacteria lives in the nose and throat and may not cause symptoms in every person. Despite the absence of symptoms, the infected person can still spread the infection to others when they cough or sneeze.

When the infected person sneezes or coughs, small droplets are generated that contain the bacteria. The infection spreads to others when they:

  • Inhale the infected droplets
  • Touch surfaces contaminated by the droplets and then touch their mouth or nose
  • Share glasses or plates with the infected person
  • Eat improperly handled food contaminated by the bacteria
  • Touch the skin rashes (impetigo) of the infected person

How is strep throat diagnosed?

The diagnosis of strep throat is done by a healthcare provider based on your symptoms, physical examinations, and certain lab tests.

Your doctor needs to collect a throat swab and send it for lab examination (rapid strep test and throat culture) to confirm that you have a strep infection. If the lab report comes positive for strep infection, your doctor will prescribe the antibiotics and other necessary medications.

Can you get rid of strep throat without antibiotics

QUESTION

Just about any painful sore throat is caused by strep. See Answer

Medically Reviewed on 1/19/2022

References

Image Source: iStock Images

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Strep Throat: All You Need to Know. https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.html

Stead W. Patient education: Sore throat in adults (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/sore-throat-in-adults-beyond-the-basics/print

Brown WA. PANDAS: Nonexistent or Simply Rare? https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/pandas-nonexistent-or-simply-rare

Can you survive strep throat without antibiotics?

Strep throat typically goes away within three to seven days with or without antibiotic treatment. If strep throat is not treated with antibiotics, you may be contagious for two to three weeks and at a higher risk for complications such as rheumatic fever.

What happens if strep throat is untreated?

If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can lead to painful and inflamed joints, a specific type of rash, or heart valve damage.

Can you get rid of strep by yourself?

Most cases of strep throat do go away on their own. However, it is important to speak with your doctor as treating strep throat with antibiotics can help prevent serious complications.

How long does it take strep throat to go away untreated?

A. Strep throat typically resolves in three to five days if untreated. Despite the short duration, antibiotic treatment is recommended to reduce the risk of complications.