What is strep throat? Do you need antibiotics?

Question

answers from personal experience preferably.

Answer 1

I've had strep throat a number of times....it's nasty! It's a bacterial infection which effects the back of the throat causing pain in swallowing and fever. It knocks you're whole system out of synch. You know its strep if you can see little white dots at the back of your throat.
The best thing to do is to get yourself down to the doc at the earliest symptoms and get antibiotics for it. Then look after yourself...cut out the parties and get good nights sleep, and a course of multi vitimins when the antibiotics are done and you should feel great again.
Hope you're feeling better soon.

Answer 2

Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the tissues in the back of the throat and the tonsils. The tissues become irritated and inflamed, causing a sudden, severe sore throat.

Strep throat is caused by streptococcal (strep) bacteria. There are many different strains of strep bacteria, some of which cause more serious illness than others. The type of strep that most commonly infects the throat is called group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABS). Other types that can sometimes infect the throat are groups C and G strep bacteria.

The most common symptoms of strep throat are a sudden, severe sore throat; pain or difficulty swallowing; fever over 101 °F(38.3 °C); swollen tonsils and lymph nodes; and white or yellow spots on the back of a bright red throat. Strep infection may also cause a headache and abdominal pain. Less commonly, strep throat can cause a red skin rash, vomiting, loss of appetite, and a general feeling of discomfort or illness.

The incubation period—the period from when you are first exposed to the bacteria until you develop symptoms—is 2 to 5 days.

You are considered contagious (able to spread the infection to others) while you still have symptoms; you are usually no longer contagious within 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics. However, if you do not seek treatment for strep throat, you may continue to be contagious for 2 to 3 weeks even if your symptoms go away.

In general, sore throats are most often caused by a viral infection and not strep bacteria. Strep throat does not occur with coldlike symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, or a runny or stuffy nose. The more coldlike symptoms you have, the less likely it is that your sore throat is a strep infection.

Strep throat is diagnosed with a physical examination, medical history, and a rapid strep test. A throat culture is sometimes done to confirm the results of the rapid strep test.

Strep throat will go away in 3 to 7 days with or without treatment. However, strep throat is still treated with antibiotics even if they do not speed recovery. Antibiotics kill the strep bacteria, shorten the time you are contagious, and reduce the risk of complications, such as the infection spreading to other parts of your body. Antibiotics are effective in relieving symptoms of strep throat only if they are given within 48 to 72 hours after symptoms begin.

Your health professional also may also recommend nonprescription medications to relieve pain and discomfort and reduce fever caused by strep throat

Answer 3

Strep throat is a contagious disease caused by infection with group A streptococci bacteria, Treatment with antibiotics is necessary. People who don't get their strep infection treated, or who don't finish all their antibiotics, are at risk for developing other illnesses later on. These can be serious and include such conditions as rheumatic fever (which can cause permanent damage to the heart), scarlet fever, blood infection, or kidney disease.

Answer 4

Strep throat is a serious medical condition that, if not cured, will turn into rheumatic fever and that, if not cured, will cause joint and heart complications, eventually stopping the heart.
I had strep that wasn't caught in time and turned into rheumatic fever that got into my joints before they could fix it and now my joints are messed up.
So yeah, strep throat needs to be treated with medication and since it is contagious someone with it should not be around other people until a doctor says it is ok.

Answer 5

Strep is a viral infection that needs to be treated by a doctor. It can cause other problems if not treated with antibiotics. Strep is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria.

Answer 6

I had it twice this year.
It requires antibiotic medication, and advil!! as well as maybe a cold medication for sore throat and sore throat / cough drops and throat pain spray.

Very painful ripping feeling at times, follow through with mediation or it will get worse!!
lots of rest, no carbonated drinks its painful. Juice
is good or milk or water ; gatorade helped me...

REST!!!!! No work/ school for a week i had to get a medical leave for 4 weeks from school.
Go to doctor constantly and get throat cultures ( a swab of back of throat) to know if it is gone. Even if pain is gone you could still have strep so go to doctor.


good luck and rest...
email me for questions and an update on how you do.

Answer 7

Strep Throat is an infection of, yes you guessed, the throat! haha yeah but you voice box gets infected with mucus and other disgusting thing and pretty much clogs it so you throat will get sore. Your throat will be red also. i advise going to a doctor VERY soon if you think you have it.

Answer 8

Yes, you need to see the doc and he will have to put you on antibiotics. Not doing so can cause bigger problems.

Answer 9

Depends on how bad it gets whether you need antibiotics

Try here for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strep