Worried you might have strep throat? Know the signs and get treatment fast!

A sore throat can be mildly annoying to debilitatingly painful, but there are several common causes that could be the culprit. When your throat feels dry or itchy or it’s painful to swallow, getting to the bottom of the potential cause is important in order to get the right kind of treatment.

Strep throat is caused by contagious bacteria that can easily be spread through the air when someone coughs. You can also catch it from someone if you share food or drinks with them.

So, what are the most common strep throat signs? Let’s take a look so you can understand the symptoms when they first appear.

Signs of Strep

Some of the most common strep throat symptoms include:

• Throat pain that happens suddenly
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Red/swollen tonsils
• White patches in the throat
• Swelling or redness in the back of the throat

Strep throat can also cause other flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. However, if you’re experiencing swelling or redness or see white patches or dots in the back of your throat, it’s likely to be strep.

How can strep throat be treated? 

Strep throat treatment is necessary to help your symptoms go away so you can find relief quickly. There are no over-the-counter medicines to treat strep throat.  It’s typically treated with oral antibiotics such as Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Azithromycin, or Ceftin.

You can also take throat lozenges or over-the-counter pain relievers to help with some of the uncomfortable symptoms (fever, soreness).

Influenza is a respiratory illness that occurs in annual outbreaks, mainly during the winter season. Symptoms of influenza infection include fever, body aches, headache. cough, stuffy nose, malaise or fatigue.

What causes Influenza (flu)? 

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses.

Symptoms of influenza infection include fever, body aches, headache. cough, stuffy nose, malaise or fatigue.

When to consult a Certified Physician Associate? (Price Medical Services) 

When clinically indicated, therapy should be started as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Testing should not delay the initiation of antiviral therapy

• Treatment can shorten the duration of symptoms when initiated within the first 48 hours of illness. 
• Individuals with flu-like symptoms whose family members or friends have the flu
• Individuals with flu-like symptoms who reside in an epidemic area
• Symptomatic health care providers who routinely care for patients at high risk for influenza complications

Treatments available online for influenza 

- Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)

- Zanamivir (Relenza)

Antibiotics aren’t effective agonist the flu because it's caused by a virus, not bacteria. 

Acute bronchitis is a common condition characterized by a persistent cough, often lasting 1-3 weeks. Most cases of acute bronchitis go away on their own. We recommend rest, increased fluid intake, a cough suppressant and/or a pain reliever. A humidifier or steam may also help. Because viruses cause most cases, antibiotics are not generally used.

What causes acute bronchitis?

It's often preceded by upper respiratory tract infection or the common cold caused by a respiratory virus and occasionally by a bacterial infection.

When to consult a Certified Physician Associate (Price Medical Services) 

• Coughing up mucus that may be yellow or green
• Runny and stuffy nose starting a few days before the chest congestion
• Feeling run-down or tired
• Sore ribs from prolonged periods of coughing
• Not being able to be as active
• Wheezing or a whistling sound while breathing
• If your symptoms persist.
• Fever (low-grade)

We do NOT treat patients experiencing high fever, chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

What is a sinus infection? 

A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, occurs when the tissue lining the sinuses becomes swollen or inflamed. While healthy sinuses are filled with air, blocked sinuses fill with fluid, which allows germs to grow, resulting in infection. A sinus blockage can be caused by a viral infection, allergies, nasal polyps, or even a deviated septum. Acute sinusitis usually occurs with a cold or other respiratory infection and lasts less than 4 weeks. Chronic sinusitis, on the other hand, lasts for more 12 weeks or is a recurring condition. Nearly 29 million Americans suffer from chronic sinus infections.

Sinusitis Symptoms 

Sinusitis is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Facial pressure or tenderness
• Postnasal drip
• Headache
• Bad breath
• Sore throat
• Cough (source)

Is It a Cold or Flu – or Sinusitis?
Both cold and flu viruses enter your body through your nose, eyes, or mouth—that is, your
mucous membranes. While a common marker of the flu is a high fever, the flu and the common cold share many similar symptoms, including nasal congestion, fatigue, cough, and sore throat. Both the common cold and flu can result in sinusitis if your sinuses are blocked, enabling bacteria to grow.

What causes sinusitis infection? 

Most cases are caused by respiratory viruses and occasionally by a bacterial infection. Because viruses cause most cases, antibiotics are not generally used.

When to consult a Certified Physician Associate (Price Medical Services)

• Cold or allergy symptoms that don’t improve within 14 days
• Fever (low-grade)
• Cough that lasts longer than 10 days
• Coughing up mucus that may be yellow or green
• Thick, dark mucus coming from the nose
• Feeling run-down or tired
• If your symptoms persist

Treatment options: Amoxicillin-clavulanate, Cefpodoxime, Levaquin, or Doxycycline

Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis are sneezing, nasal itching, running nose, nasal congestion or stuffiness, cough, facial pressure or pain, or headache. The allergens may also affect the eyes, causing watery, reddened, puffy or itchy eyes.

Our Treatment: Intranasal glucocorticoids with oral or Intranasal antihistamine.

If you are experiencing mild fever, yellow- green sputum or phlegm, colored nasal discharge, return to our consultation page and select sinus infection.

There’s no longer any need to wait for a dermatologist appointment. Set up a virtual consultation today, and an online doctor can address skin, nail, and hair problems. Treatment and prescriptions can now be accessed from the convenience of your mobile device. Price Medical Services Inc. can treat the following types of skin conditions:

What we treat: 

Skin Disorders such as Acne, Eczema, Urticaria or Hives, Cold sore, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Excessive Sweating, Discoloration, Shingles, Scabies, Lice and more

Hair: Dandruff, Hair loss, etc.

Infections: Abscess, Cellulitis, and other skin infections

Nail disorders: Onychomycosis (fungal infection), Paronychia, and Nail discoloration

Genitals (Privates): General Herpes, Warts, and Syphilis

Learn More

Acne: Including noninflammatory acne such as blackheads and whiteheads as well as inflammatory papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.

Eczema (Atopic dermatitis): This is a condition characterized by intense skin redness, itching, dry, thickened, cracked, scaly skin, or excoriated erythematous papules, and raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

Allergic Reaction: Painful, itchy, or burning rashes; hives; or allergy-related skin conditions such as eczema and contact dermatitis.

Infections: Bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections, as well as parasitic infections caused by lice, bedbugs, and more.

Abscesses: A skin abscess, or boil, is often caused by bacteria (Staphylococcus being the most common) or an infected hair follicle.

Hair loss: Whether due to genetics, medication side effects, nutritional deficiencies, or autoimmune conditions such as lupus.

Psoriasis: Set up a private consultation for guttate, inverse, pustular, erythrodermic, or plaque psoriasis as well as psoriatic arthritis.

Rosacea: Get treatment for the four subtypes of rosacea and symptoms such as redness, breakouts, or thickened skin on our Telehealth platform.

Discoloration/pigmentation issues: Dark spots, melasma, sunspots, or discoloration caused by medications or traumatic injuries.

How Price Medical Services Inc. can help

With a simple web visit to Pricemedicalserviceinc.com, you can receive an online consultation with a virtual Certified Physician Associate. Just fill out a medical consultation form; a licensed medical provider will evaluate your condition and call in a prescription you can pick up at your local pharmacy. Prescriptions are available within two hours.

You no longer have to wait 2-3 months to get your skin and hair problems addressed. Get treatment and prescription for common skin disorders right from your mobile device.

In addition to dermatological consultations, we also help with STDs, women’s and men’s health needs, psychiatric disorders, infections, and more. No insurance is needed to see an online PA-C. Whether you need a quick evaluation and treatment option or a prescription refill, start a private consultation online.

Get UTI treatment online 

Consult an online Physician Associate anytime and get immediate treatment. No urine test, appointment, or insurance necessary.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) 

Urinary tract infections (UTI's), also known as cystitis, are very common. Women are especially prone to UTI's because they have shorter urethras. This reduces the distance bacteria must travel to reach the bladder.

• Burning feeling during urination
• Frequent urination or intense urge to urinate
• Pain or discomfort in the lower stomach or abdomen or lower back
• Cloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling urine
• Other symptoms may include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, fatigue or malaise

Types of urinary tract infection 

Symptoms and signs of infection vary depending on which part of your urinary tract is infected:

• Urethra (urethritis): Signs and symptoms can include burning with urination and discharge.
• Bladder (cystitis): Signs and symptoms can include frequent urination, pain with urination, discolored (bloody) urine, pelvic pressure, and lower abdominal discomfort.
• Kidneys (acute pyelonephritis): Signs and symptoms can include flank pain, high fever, shaking and chills, nausea, and vomiting; see a doctor in person if you’re experiencing these symptoms.

What causes a UTI? 

UTI disease causes vary depending on the type. Bladder and urethra infections are the most common types, and they’re more common in women.

• Bladder UTI's are usually caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), but other bacteria can also cause them. Sexual intercourse can cause a bladder UTI by pushing bacteria into the urethra. But you can get a bladder UTI even if you’re not sexually active. The short distance between the urethral opening to the bladder puts women at higher risk of bladder infections.
• Urethral UTI's can happen when bacteria from the anus travel to the urethra. They can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.  

How are UTI'S treated? 

Most UTI infections are treated with antibiotics. Which drug the PA will prescribe depends on the type of UTI you have.

• Simple infections are treated with trimethoprim, cephalexin, and other antibiotics.
• Complicated UTIs and kidney infections may be treated with a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, which include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), and others.

The PA may also prescribe a pain medication to numb your bladder and urethra. This can help relieve burning with urination.

Antibiotics are very effective, usually providing relief within a few days. It’s very important to take the full course of antibiotics your PA prescribes, even if your symptoms improve.

Acute URI is characterized by sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, and sputum production, fever, headache. Because viruses cause most cases, antibiotics are not generally used.

What causes acute bronchitis? 

Most cases are caused by respiratory viruses and occasionally by a bacterial infection.

When to so consult a Certified Physician Associate (Price Medical Services)

• Sore throat
• Fever (low-grade)
• Coughing up mucus that may be yellow or green
• Runny and stuffy nose starting a few days before the chest congestion
• Feeling run-down or tired
• If your symptoms persist

Treatment options: Azithromycin (Zpak), Doxycycline, Ceftin and more.

We do NOT treat patients experiencing high fever, chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Nausea is the unpleasant sensation of being about to vomit. It can occur alone or can accompany vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting are typical symptoms of a disease or condition such as food poisoning, infection, pregnancy, stomach problems, diabetes or medication. It is important to control nausea and vomiting to prevent severe dehydration.

Important:  

For safety reasons, we do not treat DIARRHEA or SEVERE forms of nausea or vomiting. Often times, an IV medication is indicated in patients who are unable to hold down food/water.

Our treatment:  

We prescribe anti-nausea medications such as Ondansetron, Compazine or Reglan.

Types of ear infection 

1. Otitis Externa (swimmer’s ear) 

Otitis externa is a condition that causes redness and swelling of the external ear canal. It usually affects only one ear.

Risk factors for developing Otitis externa include repeated exposure to water or excessive moisture in the ear canal from swimming, sweating, and humid environments

Symptoms of otitis externa include:

• ear pain
• ear canal itchiness and irritation
• redness and swelling of the outer ear
• discharge
• pressure and fullness
• hearing loss
• sometimes a pimple or boil

2. Otitis Media (middle ear infection) 

Otitis Media is a type of ear infection that occurs when a bacterial or viral infection affects the nasal passages, throat, and eustachian tubes. Acute Otitis Media are painful but short in duration. Chronic Otitis Media either doesn’t clear up or recur many times.

 Causes: Otitis Media often results from another illness that causes excess mucus or congestion which includes cold, flu, allergy, infected adenoids, or sinus infection 

Prevention: Breastfeeding, Avoid secondhand smoke, Immunizations,  and Prevent common colds and other respiratory illnesses. 

Signs and symptoms of Otitis Media

• Ear pain
• Drainage
• In children: Crying, fussiness, tugging or pulling an ear
• Loss of balance
• Fever
• Ear pressure
• Headache
• Hearing loss

Treatment 

Some ear infections resolve without antibiotic treatment. After an initial observation period for at least 48 hours or fever, Price Medical Services recommends antibiotics to treat the ear infection.

When to see a Certified Physician Associate (Price Medical Services) 

• Symptoms last for more than a day
• Ear pain is severe
• Discharge from the ear
• Fever