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• Sore throat may be due to viruses or bacteria. Signs that point toward the cause include:

  • Viral: associated with cough/runny nose

  • Bacterial: no cold symptoms, sometimes headache or stomach ache

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• Strep throat is one kind of throat infection that should be treated with antibiotics.

  • With rare exceptions, our office only tests/treats strep for children over age 3 years as younger children rarely get strep throat and when they do they do not get the negative sequelae of strep that we are trying to prevent.

  • This practice is based on recommendations from the Infectious Disease Society of America, which you can read by clicking here.

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• Strep throat is not an emergency! In fact, some evidence suggests that waiting a day or two before treatment may actual reduce the risk of recurrence. Still, if you are concerned about strep you should always make an appointment to see us in the office.