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Doctors Lounge - Infections Answers
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Back to Infections Answers List
| ann123
- Wed Dec 28, 2005 7:09 pm |
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Does a fifty year old adult need antibotics to clear up strep throat? I think I caugth it from a grandchild and antibotics and I don't get along very well. Is there any danger in not taking them?
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| gstep
- Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:41 pm |
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It is important to see your family doctor to diagnose your sore throat as "strep throat". Antibiotics can be used for strep throat, a bacterial infection, but not the typical "sore throat" because they are viral infections. To answer your question; strep throat does not have to be treated with antibiotics. If left untreated there is a chance that strep throat can turn in to rheumatic fever, or even kidney disease. Typically strep throat goes away on its own in 3-7 days. Your doctor should ultimately decide if treatment is necessary.
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| ann123
- Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:12 pm |
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Thank you for your reply. I went to the doctor today and I do have a very nasty case of strep throat. I didn't know a throat could hurt so much. She gave me the same advice you did.
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| Theresa Jones, RN
- Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:20 pm |
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 Hi ann123,
I am certainly glad to hear that you went for an evaluation by your physician. A sore throat from a virus is completely different from a sore throat caused by the bacteria streptococcus (strep). A sore throat caused by the gram positive bacteria streptococcus always requires a course of antibiotic therapy. Untreated streptococcal illnesses can cause numerous complications, for example, acute rheumatic fever, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, etc. Rheumatic fever develops about two-three weeks after an untreated streptococcal infection and causes joint pain and heart disease. I certainly hope that a swab test was completed and if it was positive, antibiotic therapy was initiated. Get well soon!
Sincerely,
Theresa Jones, RN
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