Treatment
Strep Treatment
In the treatment of strep throat, various antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalexin or amoxicillin may be given. Penicillin is generally found to be quite effective against strep infections and may be given orally or through injection. Oral penicillin is usually the preferred method of treatment and the dosage would last for about a period of ten days. For people who are unable to take medications orally or who forget to take their medicine, injection may be given instead.In certain cases antibiotics such as azithromycin or erythromycin may be found to be even more effective than penicillin. Erythromycin may also be used as an alternative antibiotic in people who are allergic to penicillin.
Although the antibiotics may be needed to taken for about 10 days, the affected individual will usually start feeling better within a day or two. It is also essential that one completes the entire course of medications in order to prevent any complications from occurring.
Although strep can resolve on its own without antibiotics, they are still given due to their numerous beneficial effects. The antibiotics can destroy the bacteria causing strep quickly and make the affected person contagious free in a matter of 1 day. As the antibiotics quickly kill the bacteria, they also prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body which could lead to complications such as sinusitis, tonsilitis and ear infections.
Antibiotics are generally given a day or two after the onset of strep throat symptoms. This short delay in treatment helps the body in strengthening it's immunity to the infection and as a result may also prevent recurrences from happening. Pain killers such as aspirin or ibuprofen may also be given to reduce pain and thus help increase fluid intake.
Next: Strep Throat Prevention
