Common Medical Clinic Interventions For Sore Throats
Sore throats can occur as a result of allergies or dry air, however, they are most commonly caused by viral and bacterial infections. If the cause of a severe sore throat is not determined and if prompt treatment is not implemented, complications can develop such as difficulty swallowing and the spread of the infection. Here are some interventions you can expect when visiting a medical clinic for your sore throat.
Visual Inspection And Rapid Strep Test
After the healthcare provider asks you about your symptoms and checks your temperature and vital signs, they will perform a visual inspection of your throat. During the visual inspection, your throat will be assessed for redness, inflammation, and pus pockets on your tonsils. If pus pockets are present, it means that you have a bacterial infection. Following the visual inspection of your throat, the healthcare provider at the medical clinic will probably order a rapid strep test to determine if your infection is caused by the streptococcus bacteria. If the rapid strep test is positive, it means that you have strep throat. It is important to determine if your sore throat is bacterial or viral in nature because they are each treated differently.
Treatment Recommendations
If the medical clinic healthcare provider determines that you have strep throat, they will prescribe antibiotics. If the rapid strep test is negative, antibiotics will not be prescribed because they are only effective against bacterial infections. For throat inflammation, pain, and fever, the provider may recommend over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen. While acetaminophen can also relieve your sore throat and fever, it will not reduce pharyngeal inflammation in the way that ibuprofen does.
One of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics is amoxicillin, and while it is generally well-tolerated, it can cause upset stomach, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea in some people. If you develop side effects, call your doctor who will recommend an alternative treatment.
The medical clinic healthcare provider may also recommend that you rest, drink plenty of liquids, and follow up with your primary care doctor if you do not feel better after a few days or so.
If you experience a sore throat, especially if it is accompanied by fever and difficulty swallowing, see your physician or visit a medical health clinic. With early medical attention, most sore throats will resolve quickly, and if your sore throat is caused by an infection, the infection may be less likely to spread.
For more info, visit a local medical clinic.
