Once you begin taking antibiotics, you should start to feel better in two to three days.

it’s possible for you to also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication the help reduce pain and fever.

You should also inform a healthcare provider if youre exposed to someone with strep throat and develop symptoms.

A healthcare provider checking a woman’s sore throat

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What Happens if Strep Throat Is Untreated?

While your body may be able to fightstrep throatwithout antibiotics, healthcare providers consider it a condition requiringprompt treatment.

How Long Does Strep Throat Last?

If left untreated, you could be contagious for two to three weeks.

How Do You Know if You Have Strep Throat?

This test takes only about five minutes to show the results.

Is It a Cold or Strep Throat?

These symptoms may be signs of a viral infection, such as thecommon cold.

Who Gets Strep Throat?

Strep throat is more common in children than in adults, but anyone can get it.

Strep throat is brought on by exposure to group AStreptococcusbacteria.

It spreads quickly from person to person.

it’s possible for you to get the infection via direct contact with someone with strep throat.

Does Strep Throat Require Antibiotics?

Antibiotics can also prevent complications like rheumatic fever.

Symptoms should wane two to three days after starting on antibiotics.

You should keep taking the medicine even if you begin to feel better.

If you stop, harmful bacteria can linger in the throat, and your symptoms may return.

Carriers Don’t Always Need Antibiotics

Some people test positive for strep but have no symptoms.

These “carriers” usually don’t need antibiotics and are less likely to spread the bacteria.

Strep throat is contagiousuntil you have been taking antibiotics for 24 hours and your fever has resolved.

Strep With No Symptoms

People who develop strep throat and dont have symptoms are still contagious.

Summary

Healthcare providers recommend that most people take antibiotics if they test positive for strep throat.

The only exception to this would be carriers of strep who dont have symptoms.

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Johns Hopkins Medicine.Strep throat.