Strep Test

A sore throat that comes on suddenly, with fever and no cough, may be strep, and that one does need an antibiotic. At Clínica Hispana Nueva Salud La Porte we run the rapid test during the same visit, give you the result in 10 minutes and, if it is positive, you leave with treatment. No appointment, in Spanish or English, and on weekends too.

How to tell if it might be strep

Group A strep pharyngitis is most common in children ages 5 to 15, but it also affects adults, especially parents and teachers. The signs that set it apart from a common cold are:

• Intense sore throat that started within a few hours
• Fever of 100.4 °F or higher
• Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches
• Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
• Swollen, tender neck glands
• No cough, runny nose or hoarseness, which are more typical of viruses
• In children, stomach pain, nausea or a rough rash on the body (scarlet fever)

If your main symptom is cough, congestion or body aches, a virus is more likely, and then the flu and COVID test makes more sense.

What the test is like

We run a swab across the back of the throat and tonsils for a few seconds. It is uncomfortable but not painful, and with children we do it quickly and calmly. The rapid test result is ready in about 10 minutes. If it is negative but symptoms strongly suggest strep, especially in children, we can send a throat culture that confirms in 24 to 48 hours, because the rapid test sometimes misses mild cases.

Treatment

If the test is positive, the physician prescribes an antibiotic, usually penicillin or amoxicillin for 10 days, which you can fill at our pharmacy. Pain and fever improve in 24 to 48 hours, but it is important to finish the full course to avoid complications such as rheumatic fever or kidney problems. For pain we recommend acetaminophen or ibuprofen, cool liquids, ice pops and warm salt-water gargles.

After 24 hours on the antibiotic you are no longer contagious and can return to school or work if you feel well. Replace your toothbrush when you finish treatment.

If it keeps coming back

Some people have several episodes a year. In those cases we check for carriers at home, review how treatment was taken and, if there are more than 5 or 6 episodes a year, refer you to an ENT specialist to evaluate the tonsils.

Note for school or work

We give you the written result and a note with the recommended days off.

Strep testing in La Porte, no appointment needed

We look forward to seeing you at our medical center, at 9606 Spencer Hwy Ste D, La Porte, TX 77571, on Spencer Hwy, open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 9 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 7 PM. When your child wakes up on a Sunday with a throat that feels closed, we see them here without a trip to the ER. No health insurance needed; the visit and the test have a flat price. We serve families from La Porte, Deer Park, Pasadena, Shoreacres, Morgan's Point and the greater Houston area.