Urgent care facilities are a suitable option for prompt diagnosis and treatment of strep throat. This common ailment is a bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus (S. pyogenes). These clinics offer walk-in convenience and the necessary testing capabilities to quickly determine if a bacterial infection is the cause of a sore throat. Timely medical attention is important because, while most sore throats are viral, untreated strep throat can lead to severe complications like rheumatic fever.
Identifying Symptoms That Require Testing
Strep throat often presents with a swift onset of symptoms, including a severe sore throat. Patients commonly experience a fever, often 101°F (38.3°C) or higher, and painful swallowing (odynophagia). The physical examination often reveals red, swollen tonsils that may show white patches, streaks of pus, or exudates.
Another sign is the presence of tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth, known as petechiae. Lymph nodes in the front of the neck usually become tender and swollen. A key differentiator from common colds is the absence of typical viral symptoms.
Strep throat is unlikely if a patient has a cough, runny nose, hoarse voice, or congestion. These viral indicators help guide healthcare providers in deciding whether a diagnostic test is necessary. Since strep throat is bacterial, it will not respond to treatment until the pathogen is identified.
How Urgent Care Diagnoses Strep Throat
Upon arrival, the urgent care staff begins with a clinical assessment and physical examination, looking for signs of bacterial pharyngitis. The definitive diagnosis relies on laboratory tests using a swab sample taken from the back of the throat and tonsils. The most common initial test is the Rapid Antigen Detection Test (RADT).
The RADT works by detecting bacterial antigens and provides results within minutes (10 to 15 minutes). A positive RADT result is highly specific and is usually sufficient to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment. However, the RADT can have a lower sensitivity, meaning it might miss some true infections.
If a child or adolescent receives a negative RADT result but the provider still suspects strep, a backup throat culture is often required. The throat culture is considered the gold standard for accuracy, offering a sensitivity of 90% to 95%. The drawback is that the sample must be grown in a lab, meaning results are typically not available for 24 to 48 hours. For adults with a negative RADT, backup cultures are generally not necessary due to the minimal risk of rheumatic fever.
Treatment Plans and Recovery Timeline
Once strep throat is confirmed, the standard treatment involves a course of antibiotics, such as penicillin or amoxicillin. Antibiotic therapy is necessary to eradicate the Group A Streptococcus bacteria. Taking the medication within 48 hours of symptom onset can shorten the illness’s duration and severity.
The treatment course is typically 10 days, and the full prescription must be completed, even if symptoms disappear sooner. Stopping antibiotics prematurely increases the risk of recurrence and serious complications, most notably acute rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a delayed inflammatory response that can affect the heart valves, joints, and nervous system.
Patients usually begin to feel better within one to two days of starting the medication. A person is generally no longer contagious and can return to school or work 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment and once their fever has resolved. While urgent care is appropriate for most cases, certain severe symptoms require immediate attention at an Emergency Room (ER).
This includes significant difficulty breathing or an inability to swallow liquids, which raises concerns about dehydration or a developing peritonsillar abscess. Severe neck stiffness or a rapidly spreading rash, especially if accompanied by confusion, require emergency medical evaluation.