Strep Tests Tampa

A sudden, painful sore throat can disrupt your day and signal strep throat, a common bacterial infection requiring specific treatment. Sunshine Urgent Care provides fast and reliable strep tests in Tampa, helping you understand the cause of your symptoms quickly so you can start feeling better sooner. Our on-site rapid testing means you often get results during your visit.

Common Symptoms of Strep Throat: Strep throat is caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria and often presents with a distinct set of symptoms, though not everyone experiences all of them. Look out for:
1. A sore throat that comes on quickly and causes severe pain when swallowing.
2. Fever, often 101°F (38.3°C) or higher.
3. Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes showing white patches or streaks of pus.
4. Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes showing white patches or streaks of pus.
5. Tiny, red spots (petechiae) on the roof of the mouth (the soft or hard palate).
6. Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the front of the neck.
7. Headache, body aches, or sometimes nausea/vomiting, particularly in children.
8. (Note: Symptoms like cough, runny nose, and hoarseness are less common with strep and more indicative of a viral infection).
Getting Tested at Sunshine Urgent Care: Since symptoms can overlap with other illnesses, a quick diagnostic strep test is the most reliable way to confirm strep throat. The process is simple: a provider will gently swab the back of your throat and tonsils with a sterile cotton swab. Sunshine Urgent Care in Tampa primarily uses rapid antigen strep tests, which provide results within minutes.

In some cases, especially if the rapid test is negative but symptoms strongly suggest strep, a throat culture might be sent to a lab for further confirmation.

Treatment After a Positive Strep Test: If your strep test is positive, it confirms a bacterial infection that requires antibiotic treatment. Our medical provider will prescribe an appropriate antibiotic (commonly penicillin or amoxicillin, unless allergies exist). It is crucial to take the entire course of antibiotics exactly as prescribed, even if you start feeling better after a day or two. The full treatment is essential to eliminate the bacteria, prevent spreading the infection, and avoid potential complications like rheumatic fever or kidney problems.
Tips for Finding Relief: While antibiotics fight the infection, these tips can help soothe symptoms and make you more comfortable during recovery:
1. Rest: Allow your body time to heal by getting plenty of sleep.
2. Stay Hydrated: Drink ample fluids like water, clear broth, or caffeine-free herbal tea. Avoid irritating beverages like orange juice.
3. Pain Relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help reduce throat pain and fever (follow dosing instructions carefully).
4. Soothe Your Throat: Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water). Throat lozenges or anesthetic sprays can also provide temporary relief (check labels for age restrictions).
5. Eat Soft Foods: Choose foods that are easy to swallow, such as soups, yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs.
6. Use a Humidifier: A cool-mist humidifier can add moisture to the air, which may help soothe a dry, irritated throat.
Recovery Timeline: With appropriate antibiotic treatment, you should start feeling significantly better within 24 to 48 hours – the fever should subside, and the sore throat should improve. You are generally considered much less contagious after being on antibiotics for a full 24 hours. Most guidelines recommend staying home from work or school until you have been taking antibiotics for at least 24 hours and are fever-free (without needing fever-reducing medication). Remember, even though symptoms improve quickly, finishing the entire antibiotic prescription is vital for a full recovery.