Strep throat visit

Rapid strep guidance + antibiotic Rx when appropriate

Medically reviewed by Dr. Ikechukwu Ogbu, MD
MD · Board-Certified, Internal Medicine · Last reviewed June 2026

About Strep throat visit

A strep throat visit applies the modified Centor criteria (fever, no cough, tender anterior cervical nodes, tonsillar exudate, age) to decide whether testing is warranted. Rapid antigen testing is the standard; throat culture follows negative rapid tests in children and adolescents. Confirmed Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis is treated with a 10-day course of penicillin or amoxicillin (cephalosporin, clindamycin, or macrolide for penicillin allergy) to prevent rheumatic fever, reduce duration, and limit transmission. Patients are non-contagious 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

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