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SORE

THROAT

If you or your family member is experiencing a sore throat, it could be a symptom of a multitude of ailments, including:

  • Post nasal drip by a Sinus infection

  • Seasonal allergies

  • Viral upper respiratory illness

  • Strep throat. 

Sore throat pain is typically referred to as pharyngitis. With respect to an infection directly affecting the throat, the majority of pharyngitis cases are caused by viruses and usually improve on their own within 3-5 days.

  • Strep throat, is different in that it is caused by a bacterial infection and requires antibiotics to achieve treatment. If strep throat is not adequately treated, it is possible to suffer long term medical complications to the heart and kidneys.

  • At Gwinnett Urgent Care, we will be able to determine the most likely cause of the pharyngitis. A throat swab may be ordered to help with the diagnosis if we suspect that it could be Strep. If a child is diagnosed with strep throat, antibiotics are available in liquid form in a once daily dose. Oftentimes, the patient with a strep throat will also suffer with fever, chills, cough and nasal congestion. These other symptoms will also respond to medications which provide symptom relief. A child with strep throat is contagious to others and should be kept away from school and other children for at least 24 hours after the antibiotics have been started.