Prompt Sore Throat Treatment in Stratford, CT

Dealing with a sore throat is miserable, but generally, it’s a symptom that will go away on its own after a few days. A sore throat that lasts for more than a week, is especially severe, or is accompanied by fever, red spots on the roof of your mouth, or swollen tonsils may be an indication of strep throat, which requires medical treatment. PhysicianOne Urgent Care in Stratford, Connecticut, offers prompt treatment for sore throats and strep throat, and you can visit us any day of the week for care.

Diagnosing Strep Throat

Generally, strep throat is diagnosed with a rapid antigen test, also known as a throat swab. At PhysicianOne Urgent Care, we have an on-site clinical lab that can process rapid strep tests in minutes. The provider you see will swab your throat to collect a sample, and then send the swab to our lab. If antigens to group A streptococcus bacteria are present in the sample, the diagnosis is strep throat.

In some instances, especially if the provider suspects you have strep throat but the throat swab comes back negative, a more involved procedure called a throat culture will be recommended. During this test, the provider will rub a sterile swab along the back of your throat and tonsils to collect secretions. The swab is sent to a laboratory where it will be cultured to see if bacteria are present, and results can take a few days.

Treating Strep Throat

If you are diagnosed with strep throat, the general treatment recommendation is antibiotics to clear up the bacterial infection. It’s necessary to complete the whole round of antibiotics, even if you start feeling better before finishing the regimen.

If you need treatment for a sore throat, visit PhysicianOne Urgent Care in Stratford today. Our friendly providers will treat you promptly. Additionally, if you are worried that your sore throat may be an indication of COVID-19, we offer curbside testing at our urgent care center. Simply schedule a Virtual Visit to have your symptoms evaluated and then we can register you for a test.