Strep Throat (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Strep Throat Overview
- Strep Throat Causes
- Strep Throat Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Strep Throat Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Pictures of Anatomy of a Sore Throat - Slideshow

- Viewer Comments: Strep Throat - Length Symptoms Lasted
Exams and Tests
An accurate diagnosis of strep throat is a must. Because the doctor cannot make a definite diagnosis of strep throat on physical examination, a test may be required.
- Rapid antigen test: A rapid strep test can be done in the doctor's office. A swab is used to take a sample of the fluids from the back of the throat. The test only takes about 15 minutes. If the result is positive for streptococcal bacteria, the diagnosis is confirmed, but a negative test result does not rule out strep throat. Rapid tests have an error rate of about 20%.
- Throat swab culture: If the rapid test result is negative, a throat swab is sent to the lab for further testing. This takes 24-48 hours. If streptococcal bacteria grow during this time, the test result is positive, and the diagnosis of strep throat is confirmed.
Next: Strep Throat Treatment »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Strep Throat - Length Symptoms Lasted
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
How long did the symptoms of your strep throat last? Was there anything in particular that helped with pain/symptom relief?
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Streptococcal Infection, Group A »
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus) is one of the most important pathogens encountered in clinical practice.
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