Strep Throat question...

[Disneyland_emily]

Im about 80% positive I have Strep. I am now on day 4 of it. When checking Web MD it says it generally lasts 3-7 days and antibiotics are most effective within 24-72 hours of onset, which Ive passed...

I do not have insurance right now so would have to pay for the drs visit (well centra care- Im in Orlando) strep test and antibiotic. Any ideas what that will cost?

Would it be better to just deal for the next few days until it passes or do I need to get antibiotics?

Any advice?
Thanks!

 

[luvwinnie]

From what I have read, you ALWAYS need antibiotics for strep...PLEASE go to dr. Strep can damage your kidneys...it's one theory dr. had about why my mom developved kidney disease.

 

[luvwinnie]

INFO:
The main concern with strep throat relates to the development of acute rheumatic fever. This is an infection of the heart valves which leads to permanent heart valve damage with the possibility of progression to heart failure. Strep throat also causes kidney damage if not prevented by use of antibiotics. The kidney damage of the filtering system can lead to both acute kidney failure and chronic kidney problems. Of course, strep can also spread to tissues in the upper airways (for example, deep throat infections and infections of the draining lymph nodes at the front of the neck. Extension from the throat to the brain rarely occurs thereby producing meningitis or brain abscess.

 

[MAKmom]

Do you have a fever or puss on your tonsils? A Virus can last 7 to 10 days.

 

[HamTown]

I always have a metallic taste in my mouth when I get strep.

Can't guess about the cost of a doctor's visit but a prescription of Amoxicillin is really, really cheap. Less than $10.

 

[sunlver]

Its also VERY contagious. My 7 yr old daughter got it twice within a month. She got from the kids in her class.. She was put on antibiotics for 10days..5 days later, she got it again,and another 10 days of a stronger antibiotics 10 days, now she is clear.
If nothing else, you should go to the dr so you dont infect anybody else.

 

[azgal81]

I thought I had strep a month or so ago. My throat hurt so much I couldn't even talk. I went to the doctor and was given a strep test negative! Who knew. He told me I had a viral infection and it would last 7-10 days.

Are you taking any over the counter stuff at all? Is that helping. If you think you do have strep you need to go to the doctor for stronger drugs.

I can't help with the cost since I have insurance and pay a copay. Maybe call and ask how much it will cost you to see a doctor and get a strep test without insurance. I'm sure it varies everywhere.

 

[sugarpie]

You definitely need to go to the doctor. Strep can attack the body. Muppet creator Jim Henson died from a strep infection (little bit of trivia for you).

I actually just got a bill from urgent care for a visit with a strep culture. My insurance took care of most of it, but I don't think it was much more than $120. Explain your situation & see how they can make the visit as inexpensive as possible. Maybe they can just do the do the rapid test & not the culture that takes days, or vice versa. Ask for a generic antibiotic & that should only cost you $10-$15.

 

[pkasbohm]

I agree...no matter what the cost is you should go in because it could cause far worse problems for you. It is also very contagious. I have also found that unless you have a dishwasher with the hot hot temps on it to disinfect it can live on your flatware and glasses and spread that way too.

Some drs. may just look in your throat and find it is bad enough and not do a culture on it and treat it....if that is the case you will just have the office visit and the med...which isn't that expensive.


Hope you feel better soon!

 

[ohiominnie]

Some drs. may just look in your throat and find it is bad enough and not do a culture on it and treat it....if that is the case you will just have the office visit and the med...which isn't that expensive.

And this is bad medicine. You cannot tell by looking if a person has strep or a viral pharangitis (viral sore throat)

Treating a viral sore throat with antibiotics will not shorten the course of the disease. What it DOES do is create resistant forms of bacteria which are by far, more expensive than paying for a throat culture.

Agreed, if it's strep it DOES need treatment with an antibiotic....some of the things untreated strep can cause are:
rheumatic fever (which can cause heart valve problems, joint arthritis, etc)
glomeruloneprhritis (sp?) (kidney problems---although this can happen even with TREATED strep)
peri-tonsilar abcess (nasty stuff)

I've seen NASTY throats that have had negative throat cultures, and I've seen throats that look completely normal that were positive for strep.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

If you do have strep, you definitely need an antibiotic. My son was diagnosed with strep on superbowl weekend and was given a 10 day supply of antibiotics and he still has moments of not feeling great.

Most importantly, if strep goes undiagnosed, it can actually be fatal. Go to the doctor. Feel better!

 

[pkasbohm]

And this is bad medicine. You cannot tell by looking if a person has strep or a viral pharangitis (viral sore throat)

Treating a viral sore throat with antibiotics will not shorten the course of the disease. What it DOES do is create resistant forms of bacteria which are by far, more expensive than paying for a throat culture.

Agreed, if it's strep it DOES need treatment with an antibiotic....some of the things untreated strep can cause are:
rheumatic fever (which can cause heart valve problems, joint arthritis, etc)
glomeruloneprhritis (sp?) (kidney problems---although this can happen even with TREATED strep)
peri-tonsilar abcess (nasty stuff)

I've seen NASTY throats that have had negative throat cultures, and I've seen throats that look completely normal that were positive for strep.

Right...i agree with you but if the throat is full of puss, and gross it is obvious that there is something that is not right and will be treated with a antibiotic.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Everytime I think I have strep, I go to the Dr.. I think 1 time out of 10 I actually had it. The Dr. always quotes some ridiculously low statistic of adult cases of strep. (Makes me feel great about being proactive. He's one of a group that I really like, so I just roll with it.)

Anyway, it doesn't deter me from going to check if I think I have it. Strep is nasty. It can do some real damage to your body. Better safe than sorry is my motto.

 

[ohiominnie]

Right...i agree with you but if the throat is full of puss, and gross it is obvious that there is something that is not right and will be treated with a antibiotic.

Can't agree with you there. Viral throat infections can also have pus and be gross.

Or mono can cause a throat that looks like this. Mono is also viral and cannot be cured by an antibiotic.

 

[sugarpie]

Everytime I think I have strep, I go to the Dr.. I think 1 time out of 10 I actually had it. The Dr. always quotes some ridiculously low statistic of adult cases of strep. (Makes me feel great about being proactive. He's one of a group that I really like, so I just roll with it.)

Anyway, it doesn't deter me from going to check if I think I have it. Strep is nasty. It can do some real damage to your body. Better safe than sorry is my motto.

I completely agree. I actually have strep about half the time I go in, but I got a nice lecture from one of the doctors how adults NEVER get strep. Whatever. I've had it twice in a little over a year.

 

[themarquis]

I've gone the no insurance route before, so here are a couple of ideas for you:

1. When you go to the dr (as I'm sure you will since everyone on the dis has jumped on you about it ) make sure they know you do not have insurance and are concerned about the costs. I always did this when I didn't have insurance, and often the drs/nurses would help me by giving me samples for my meds or prescribing a cheaper med. (there are sometimes many choices for an antibiotic -- older, cheaper, effective ones, as well as shiny flashy expensive new ones!) They MAY be able to knock down some of the price of the doctor's visit, as well.

2. If you get a generic antibiotic, most likely you can get it for 4.00 at target/walmart (they have a four dollar generic program now in most states). Also, if you are under 18, I think walmart (check this -- maybe its another store) does free antibiotics for "kids".

3. If you don't think you can afford a doctor's visit, there are many free and sliding-scale clinics out there. Some are public health clinics, and some are regular doctors/nurse practitioner community clinics that get funding to do low-cost care for people in need (I happen to go to a community clinic that is wonderful -- even though I presently have insurance. They do sliding scale for the uninsured) You might need to call around. This page will give you public health for your county (you're in FL, right?) and the public health dept people can help refer you to a clinic or give you the phone number of whoever does that sort of thing. http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdsitelist.htm

 

[ohiominnie]

1. When you go to the dr (as I'm sure you will since everyone on the dis has jumped on you about it

No one "jumped on her about it." We merely pointed out the dangers of not treating strep throat.

 

[themarquis]

No one "jumped on her about it." We merely pointed out the dangers of not treating strep throat.

I was joking ... hence the smiley!

 

[ohiominnie]

I was joking ... hence the smiley!

whew. ok. sory for jumping on you.
I get a little weird about antibiotic overusage. Our best friends mom broke her wrist, had surgery, and two days later ended up in the ICU b/c of methicillin resistant bacteria (MRSA). She was in the ICU for 6 weeks, most of that on a ventilator. She ended up with a trach. She had pus growing in her brain, her joints, her abdomen, ...everywhere. She lived, but spent about 6 months in a rehab facility. Now the woman who worked in a church office, helped raise her grand-daughter, and was very active in the community lives in a wheelchar and cannot even feed herself.
Dh (pediatrician) sees kids and babies every week that have an abcess filled with MRSA. It's nasty nasty stuff.
So I don't like to hear of the mis-use of antibiotics.

 

[sugarpie]

I don't like to hear of the mis-use of antibiotics.

I completely agree. I have this friend who, since I'm a nurse, thinks I'm her personal medical dictionary. She's always calling me, telling me what's wrong with her & wanting my advice. I usually tell her it's probably just a virus but to see her doctor. She'll ignore me & use some antibiotics she never finished that are sitting in her medicine cabinet. Then when she's not feeling better in a few days she'll call me again. Some day there won't be any antibiotics left that work for her. She just doesn't get it.