Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPreventing Strep ThroatPreventionWhen Symptoms Start

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Table of Contents

Preventing Strep Throat

Prevention

When Symptoms Start

You can get strep throat when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes around you. These airborne droplets can linger in the air, causing them to land in your eyes, nose, and mouth, or they can be breathed in through your nose.

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Child with strep throat visits healthcare provider with parent

Always consult your healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment. Although rare, untreated strep throat may lead to serious complications, especially if you are immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) or are pregnant.

This article will discuss how to prevent strep throat, including what to do if you have strep throat and don’t want to spread it to others and what to do if you feel the onset of symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Strep ThroatIf you suspect that you have strep throat, look for the followingsigns and symptoms:Scratchy or itchy sore throat (begins rapidly)Severe pain when swallowing or speakingA low-grade feverSmall, red bumps on the roof of your mouth (petechiae)Swollen lymph glandsSwollen tonsils sometimes with pus (thick, white fluid)

Signs and Symptoms of Strep Throat

If you suspect that you have strep throat, look for the followingsigns and symptoms:Scratchy or itchy sore throat (begins rapidly)Severe pain when swallowing or speakingA low-grade feverSmall, red bumps on the roof of your mouth (petechiae)Swollen lymph glandsSwollen tonsils sometimes with pus (thick, white fluid)

If you suspect that you have strep throat, look for the followingsigns and symptoms:

4 Reasons You Can Get Strep Without Tonsils

How to Prevent Strep Throat

Although there are currently no vaccines to prevent strep throat, adopting these good practices can effectively protect you and your loved ones from getting a new or recurring infection.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your handsis the gold standard for protecting yourself from getting sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing your hands for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to hum or sing the entire “Happy Birthday” song twice) with warm water and soap at the following times:

Use Hand Sanitizer

When you can’t use soap and water, use a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill the germs on your hands. While hand sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs from your hands, they effectively remove a majority of them.

However, hand sanitizers do not take off soil, dirt, or chemicals from your hands. As such, hand sanitizers should come second to handwashing, as washing can remove dirt and grease.

Don’t Share Personal Items

Personal items include utensils, food, drinks, toothbrushes, masks, or face cloths that can spread germs from person to person. When you share these items with someone who has strep throat, bacteria can enter your body when you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Cover Your Mouth

Make sure to wash your hands or use a 60% alcohol-based sanitizer afterward and dispose of tissues in the waste bin.

How to Prevent the Spread of Strep Throat

Take Antibiotics

With the proper treatment, you should feel better after 24–48 hours, in which you are no longer contagious. The two most commonly used antibiotics totreat strep throatare penicillin and Amoxil (amoxicillin), a form of penicillin.

If you are allergic to penicillin, your healthcare provider may prescribe the following antibiotics instead:

The Importance of Finishing Your AntibioticsIf your healthcare provider prescribes you antibiotics, it is important to finish your medication to its entirety, even if you are feeling better. If you stop taking your medication as directed, any remaining bacteria in your body can continue to multiply. When this happens, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can form, causing harm to the body.In some cases, inadequately treated strep throat can develop life-threatening conditions, such assepsis(a whole-body reaction to a blood infection) orrheumatic fever(an inflammatory disease that develops after a strep infection).

The Importance of Finishing Your Antibiotics

If your healthcare provider prescribes you antibiotics, it is important to finish your medication to its entirety, even if you are feeling better. If you stop taking your medication as directed, any remaining bacteria in your body can continue to multiply. When this happens, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can form, causing harm to the body.In some cases, inadequately treated strep throat can develop life-threatening conditions, such assepsis(a whole-body reaction to a blood infection) orrheumatic fever(an inflammatory disease that develops after a strep infection).

If your healthcare provider prescribes you antibiotics, it is important to finish your medication to its entirety, even if you are feeling better. If you stop taking your medication as directed, any remaining bacteria in your body can continue to multiply. When this happens, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can form, causing harm to the body.

In some cases, inadequately treated strep throat can develop life-threatening conditions, such assepsis(a whole-body reaction to a blood infection) orrheumatic fever(an inflammatory disease that develops after a strep infection).

Stay Home From Work or School

Rest

Getting enough sleepis essential forboosting your immune systemwhen you’re sick. The CDC recommends adults get at least seven hours of sleep within a 24-hour period to prevent illness.

Protect Others in Your Home

You can protect your loved ones from getting strep throat with the practices listed above. These include washing your hands frequently, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, not sharing personal items, and covering your mouth when you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose.

In addition, frequently wash clothes and bed linens using hot water. For colored clothing, consider adding to your wash cycle a cup of distilled white vinegar, which kills bacteria.

How to Prevent Strep Throat When You Feel it Coming

You may be contagious for a few days (typically two to three days) before symptoms appear.If you feel strep throat coming on, stay home and limit your exposure to people, especially children, and those who are immunocompromised or pregnant.

Keep in mind that not everyone experiences symptoms with a strep throat infection. However, if you believe you were exposed to someone with strep throat, consider seeing your healthcare provider to get tested.

Getting the appropriate treatment is imperative to keeping you and your loved ones safe. If your infection is left untreated, you can be contagious for two to three weeks.

Summary

A Word From Verywell

Strep throat is a highly preventable infection. However, if you test positive for strep throat, be sure to rest, eat well, and follow your healthcare provider’s suggested treatment regime.

If you are prescribed antibiotics, you’ll likely feel better within 24 to 48 hours of taking them. Keep in mind that even when you start to feel better, it’s important to finish all your medication to prevent the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

That said, it’s rare to develop serious complications from a case of strep throat, but it can happen, especially if you are immunocompromised. If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked QuestionsStudies show that natural ingredients, such as oregano oil, garlic, honey, and apple cider vinegar, contain antimicrobial properties that can kill bacteria like Streptococcus.However, these are not replacements for antibiotics, which can cure the infection and prevent its spread.If you have strep throat, takingvitamin C supplementsmay ensure you have enough to support your immune system. You can also eat vitamin C–rich foods, such as cantaloupe, orange, strawberries, kiwi, kale, and bell peppers.These should not replace antibiotics, which cure the infection, though. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking large doses of any vitamin or natural supplement, as they may interfere with some medications.Learn MoreWhat Is Vitamin C?Although strep throat can go away on its own within three to seven days without treatment, you can remain contagious for up to two to three weeks.If you suspect that you have a strep throat infection, consult your healthcare provider. In rare cases, serious complications can occur, especially if you are immunocompromised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Studies show that natural ingredients, such as oregano oil, garlic, honey, and apple cider vinegar, contain antimicrobial properties that can kill bacteria like Streptococcus.However, these are not replacements for antibiotics, which can cure the infection and prevent its spread.

If you have strep throat, takingvitamin C supplementsmay ensure you have enough to support your immune system. You can also eat vitamin C–rich foods, such as cantaloupe, orange, strawberries, kiwi, kale, and bell peppers.These should not replace antibiotics, which cure the infection, though. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking large doses of any vitamin or natural supplement, as they may interfere with some medications.Learn MoreWhat Is Vitamin C?

If you have strep throat, takingvitamin C supplementsmay ensure you have enough to support your immune system. You can also eat vitamin C–rich foods, such as cantaloupe, orange, strawberries, kiwi, kale, and bell peppers.These should not replace antibiotics, which cure the infection, though. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking large doses of any vitamin or natural supplement, as they may interfere with some medications.

If you have strep throat, takingvitamin C supplementsmay ensure you have enough to support your immune system. You can also eat vitamin C–rich foods, such as cantaloupe, orange, strawberries, kiwi, kale, and bell peppers.

These should not replace antibiotics, which cure the infection, though. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking large doses of any vitamin or natural supplement, as they may interfere with some medications.

Learn MoreWhat Is Vitamin C?

Although strep throat can go away on its own within three to seven days without treatment, you can remain contagious for up to two to three weeks.If you suspect that you have a strep throat infection, consult your healthcare provider. In rare cases, serious complications can occur, especially if you are immunocompromised.

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical considerations for Group A streptococcus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for Group A streptococcal pharyngitis.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About handwashing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.FastStats: Sleep in adults.Irwin MR, Opp MR.Sleep health: reciprocal regulation of sleep and innate immunity.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;42(1):129-155. doi:10.1038/npp.2016.148Delfani S, Bahmani M, Mohammadrezaei-Khorramabadi R, Rafieian-Kopaei M.Phytotherapy in Streptococcusagalactiae: an overview of the medicinal plants effective against Streptococcus agalactiae.Journal of Clinical Diagnostic Research. 2017;11(6):DE01-DE02. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/25530.9988GoHealth UC.Home remedies for strep throat symptoms.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical considerations for Group A streptococcus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for Group A streptococcal pharyngitis.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About handwashing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.FastStats: Sleep in adults.Irwin MR, Opp MR.Sleep health: reciprocal regulation of sleep and innate immunity.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;42(1):129-155. doi:10.1038/npp.2016.148Delfani S, Bahmani M, Mohammadrezaei-Khorramabadi R, Rafieian-Kopaei M.Phytotherapy in Streptococcusagalactiae: an overview of the medicinal plants effective against Streptococcus agalactiae.Journal of Clinical Diagnostic Research. 2017;11(6):DE01-DE02. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/25530.9988GoHealth UC.Home remedies for strep throat symptoms.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical considerations for Group A streptococcus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for Group A streptococcal pharyngitis.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About handwashing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.FastStats: Sleep in adults.Irwin MR, Opp MR.Sleep health: reciprocal regulation of sleep and innate immunity.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;42(1):129-155. doi:10.1038/npp.2016.148Delfani S, Bahmani M, Mohammadrezaei-Khorramabadi R, Rafieian-Kopaei M.Phytotherapy in Streptococcusagalactiae: an overview of the medicinal plants effective against Streptococcus agalactiae.Journal of Clinical Diagnostic Research. 2017;11(6):DE01-DE02. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/25530.9988GoHealth UC.Home remedies for strep throat symptoms.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical considerations for Group A streptococcus.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for Group A streptococcal pharyngitis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About handwashing.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.FastStats: Sleep in adults.

Irwin MR, Opp MR.Sleep health: reciprocal regulation of sleep and innate immunity.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;42(1):129-155. doi:10.1038/npp.2016.148

Delfani S, Bahmani M, Mohammadrezaei-Khorramabadi R, Rafieian-Kopaei M.Phytotherapy in Streptococcusagalactiae: an overview of the medicinal plants effective against Streptococcus agalactiae.Journal of Clinical Diagnostic Research. 2017;11(6):DE01-DE02. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/25530.9988

GoHealth UC.Home remedies for strep throat symptoms.

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