When to Seek Sore Throat Treatment in Waterbury, CT
Has your sore throat lasted for longer than a week? Is it accompanied by a fever over 101 degrees, a rash, or joint pain? Does your throat feel so swollen that your sleep has been affected? These are all signs that your sore throat might be strep throat, requiring a round of antibiotics to clear up. If so, you can come to PhysicianOne Urgent Care in Waterbury, Connecticut, for sore throat treatment from experienced providers. Our clinicians provide a full scope of diagnostics and treatments for many causes of sore throat, including strep infection. Plus, we treat patients of all ages, so you can confidently choose us as your family urgent care provider.
Sore Throat & Strep Throat Causes
There are several factors that can cause a sore throat, including:
- Allergies
- Viral respiratory infections like the common cold and the flu
- Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
- Fatigue
- Tonsilitis
- Frequent mouth breathing
- Group A streptococcus infection (strep throat)
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that’s a common cause of throat soreness among children, although adults can also develop strep throat. This condition results from Streptococcus pyogenes—a contagious bacterium that can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes.
Sore Throat vs. Strep Throat Symptoms
The hallmark symptom of strep throat is an intensely sore throat that develops quickly. Other common strep throat symptoms include:
- Painful swallowing
- Swollen, red tonsils that may be streaked with white pus
- Tiny red spots toward the back of the mouth
- Headache
- Enlarged, tender neck lymph nodes
- Fever and/or body aches
- Nausea, especially in children
If you have a sore throat and experience symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, or nasal congestion, allergies or a viral infection is most likely to blame. Be sure to consult with a medical professional who can diagnose the cause of your sore throat and provide appropriate treatment.
When to Seek Medical Care for a Sore Throat
It’s always wise to seek medical care for a sore throat that persists for more than a few days or disrupts your sleep. It’s especially important to visit a reputable medical provider like PhysicianOne Urgent Care if your sore throat:
- Lasts longer than 48 hours
- Is accompanied by a fever, a rash, or swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Makes it difficult to comfortably breathe or swallow
If you’ve already been diagnosed with strep throat, you should contact your medical provider if your sore throat doesn’t improve after two days of taking antibiotics.
Diagnosing Strep Throat
The PhysicianOne Urgent Care provider you see will first learn about your symptoms and your medical history before performing a brief physical exam. They will use a lighted instrument to examine the back of your throat as well as your ears and nose and gently palpate your neck to feel for swollen lymph nodes.
If your practitioner recommends a strep test, you’ll be glad to know that we offer rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with immediate results. This means that we won’t need to send a throat culture to an outside lab. If your test comes back positive, we can start antibiotic treatment right away; and if it comes back negative, we can avoid prescribing any unnecessary antibiotics.
Strep Throat Treatment
If you are diagnosed with strep throat, your practitioner will likely prescribe a round of antibiotics to clear the bacterial infection. It’s vital to take all of the prescribed medication as instructed, even if your symptoms seem to go away quickly. Other medications to help ease a fever or headaches may also be recommended.
Sore Throat Treatment
If your sore throat is caused by something other than strep throat, there are several self-care measures you can implement at home to help ease your symptoms. For example, try:
- Drinking plenty of fluids and staying hydrated
- Resting your voice
- Using a humidifier or vaporizer
- Prioritizing sleep and resting as much as possible
- Avoiding airborne irritants like cigarette smoke
PhysicianOne Urgent Care Provides The Care You Need, When You Need It
PhysicianOne Urgent Care is open 365 days per year and has extended evening hours for your convenience. Appointments are never required, but you’re encouraged to utilize our online check-in system to help expedite your visit. Our urgent care center in Waterbury is located in the Naugatuck Valley Shopping Center at 920 Wolcott Street, Suite 19.
Still, if you have a sore throat—or if you’ve already been diagnosed with strep throat—you may not feel up to getting out of bed, driving a car, and sitting in our reception area. We understand! That’s why PhysicianOne Urgent Care is pleased to offer 24/7 telemedicine services that allow patients to consult “face-to-face” with a clinician from the comfort of home at any time of day or night. Connecting with us is simple—just schedule a Virtual Visit online and discuss your symptoms over our secure videoconference platform.
Take the first step toward finding relief from your sore throat by visiting our Waterbury urgent care center or speaking with us online today. We accept most health insurance plans and offer sensible rates to self-pay patients.
