Published at November 15, 2024

So, you’ve taken an at home strep throat that has come back with a positive result. Now what? Without a prescription, you won’t be able to take the antibiotics you need to feel better. If you’re worried about what to do next, read on so that we can help you find the care you need!

What is Strep?

Short for Streptococcus, strep throat is a genus of bacteria responsible for a range of infections in humans. The most common type is Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), which can cause strep throat, scarlet fever, and skin infections like impetigo.

Strep throat is very common, highly contagious, and easily treated. If you think you might have this cold-like illness, check your symptoms below before getting tested.

Main Symptoms of Strep

Strep throat typically comes on very quickly with distinctive symptoms. Here are the main symptoms to look out for:

  • Severe sore throat
  • White patches or streaks of pus at the back of the throat
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Fever
  • Red and swollen tonsils
  • Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Body aches
  • Chills
  • Rash, if scarlet fever
  • Loss of appetite

Of course, you could have some of these symptoms and just have a regular cold or a bug. It's important to have a medical evaluation to determine whether you really do have strep.

Getting Tested for Strep

At Home Strep Test

If you are willing to drive to a pharmacy, or wait a day for a test kit ordered online, then you can take an at home strep throat test. These generally include test strips, a swab, and a reagent solution, similar to a COVID-19 test kit.

How to Test for Strep Throat at Home: Following the instructions, the at home strep test will indicate whether the strep bacteria is present, or not. However, false positives can occur, so this is not a fail-proof test.

Confirm the Results: If you are given a positive result, you can have this confirmed by a doctor online who can prescribe the proper treatment. You won’t have access to antibiotics unless you contact a doctor.

In-Person Lab Test

If you visit a local clinic, there are two types of tests they can perform for strep throat. They are as follows:

  • Rapid Antigen Test: Tests for the presence of strep bacteria via a swab of the throat. This type of test provides results in about 10 to 20 minutes. This test carries a small risk of false negatives.
  • Throat Culture: Similarly to the rapid test, a throat swab is collected and then sent off to be cultured in a lab to allow bacteria to grow. Results take 24 to 48 hours, but it is very accurate and can detect infections missed by the rapid test.

Prescription: If either of these tests come back positive, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics to treat the strep infection.

Online Doctor Diagnosis

Sometimes, you don’t feel well enough to go to a clinic or a pharmacy to get a strep throat at home test. In these situations, or if you’d prefer a more private, easy solution, 24HourDoc telehealth is ideal. Here’s what to expect from an online doctor consultation.

Schedule a Consultation: Book an appointment online with a highly skilled and trained physician or doctor.

Symptom Discussion: During the video consultation, you'll discuss your symptoms in detail. The doctor will ask questions about the onset, severity, and any other symptoms, such as fever or swollen lymph nodes.

Visual Examination: The doctor might ask you to show the back of your throat on camera.

Prescription: If the doctor is confident in the diagnosis, they may prescribe antibiotics to treat the strep throat. They’ll send your prescription to a local pharmacy of your choosing so you can pick it up or have it delivered.

Online Treatment for Strep

These are the most common treatments for strep throat:

Penicillin: This is the traditional first choice for treating strep and is usually very effective.

Amoxicillin: This is often preferred due to its better taste for children and convenience of dosing.

For Penicillin Allergies: If you have a penicillin and amoxicillin allergy, you will likely be prescribed either Cephalexin, Clindamycin, or Azithromycin.

Sticking to Your Treatment Plan

Once you start taking antiobiotics, you should stay inside and away from people for 24 hours to ensure that you are not contagious. Your symptoms, like the sore throat should start to improve quickly, and feel much better by 48 hours.

However, even if you do start feeling normal, it’s very important to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed. You need to make sure that the infection is fully cleared to ensure that it goes away for good. In addition to the antibiotics, you can talk to your healthcare provider about over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen that can help manage symptoms like throat pain and fever.

Road to Recovery with 24HrDoc

Strep throat is a very common illness that accounts for 30% of sore throats in children and 5-15% of sore throats in adults. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it’s best to either take an at home test for strep throat or schedule an in-person or online consultation so that you can start treatment immediately. Strep can go away on its own, but it can also turn into more serious issues like rheumatic fever and kidney disease, so it’s best to get treated.

With around-the-clock advice, 24HrDoc is here to answer any of your health-related questions. Please reach out if you suspect your sore throat might actually be strep so that you can start to feel better, sooner.