Quick answer: Most sore throats are caused by viruses and get better on their own. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics. The only way to know which one you have is a test. At PACS Urgent Care in Alexandria and Ruther Glen, a rapid strep test gives results during your visit, and if it’s positive, your provider can prescribe antibiotics right away. No appointment needed.

Strep throat is most common in late fall, winter and early spring, when kids are back in school and everyone is indoors. Here’s how to tell when a sore throat might be strep, and what to expect when you come in.

Strep throat vs. a regular sore throat

A sore throat from a cold usually comes with a runny nose, cough, sneezing or a hoarse voice. Strep throat often doesn’t. Signs that point more toward strep include:

  • Sudden, severe throat pain, especially when swallowing
  • Fever
  • Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
  • Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
  • Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the front of the neck
  • Headache, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, especially in children

Strep is most common in children ages 5 to 15, but adults get it too, especially parents of school-age kids and people who work with children.

How strep throat is diagnosed

You can’t diagnose strep by looking at a throat alone. At PACS, your provider will examine you and swab the back of your throat for a rapid strep test. Results are ready in minutes, during your visit. If the rapid test is negative but your provider still suspects strep, especially in a child, they may send a throat culture to the lab to confirm.

How strep throat is treated

Strep throat is treated with antibiotics, most often penicillin or amoxicillin. People with a penicillin allergy can take a different antibiotic. Most people start to feel better within a day or two. Even then, it’s important to finish the full course your provider prescribes. Stopping early can let the infection come back and raises the risk of complications.

To feel better while the antibiotics work:

  • Drink plenty of fluids. Warm tea with honey (for anyone over age 1) or cold drinks and ice pops can both soothe the throat.
  • Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and fever, as directed.
  • Gargle with warm salt water (for older kids and adults).
  • Rest, and replace your toothbrush once you’re on antibiotics.

Learn more about when antibiotics help, and when they don’t, in can urgent care prescribe antibiotics?

When can you go back to school or work?

Strep spreads easily through coughs, sneezes and shared cups or utensils. Most health departments say a child can return to school once all three of these are true:

  • They’ve taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours
  • They’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine
  • They feel well enough for normal activities

The same rule is a good guide for adults going back to work. Need proof for school or your employer? We can provide a doctor’s note at your visit.

Why it’s important to treat strep

Untreated strep throat can lead to complications such as ear and sinus infections, an abscess near the tonsils, and, rarely, rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart. Prompt testing and treatment lowers these risks and helps you stop spreading it to your family.

When to go to the ER instead

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you or your child:

  • Has trouble breathing
  • Can’t swallow, or is drooling because swallowing is too painful
  • Can’t open the mouth fully, or has a muffled “hot potato” voice
  • Has a stiff neck or seems very sick or confused

Frequently asked questions

Can urgent care test for strep throat?

Yes. PACS Urgent Care offers rapid strep testing with results during your visit at both our Alexandria and Ruther Glen locations.

Can urgent care prescribe antibiotics for strep throat?

Yes. If your strep test is positive, your provider can prescribe an antibiotic during the same visit and send it to your pharmacy.

Can adults get strep throat?

Yes. It’s most common in school-age children, but adults can get it too, especially from kids in the house.

How long is strep throat contagious?

Without treatment, strep can spread for weeks. With antibiotics, most people are much less likely to spread it after about 12 to 24 hours.

How much is a strep test without insurance?

See our self-pay pricing for current visit and test prices. Most insurance plans cover strep testing as part of a sick visit.

Not sure if it’s strep or a sinus problem? Read sinus infection and sore throat: when to see a provider.

Where can I learn more?

See strep throat information from the CDC.

Get care today at PACS Urgent Care

Walk in or check in online at our Alexandria urgent care (3481 N Beauregard St, open 7 days, 8 AM to 8 PM) or our Ruther Glen urgent care (17067 Merchants Dr, Monday to Friday 8 AM to 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM).

This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician.