Is this strep throat???

Question

The back of my throat is soar, and its inflamed. Its a little red, but its barely noticeable. There are not any white lines or puss balls anymore, ive been taking Doxycyline. and it seems to be getting better, but it still hurts. Now, i do realize im 15 years old, and i shouldnt be afraid of a stupid strep test, but i am, and i was wondering it I should ready myself for my dr. appointment today at 4.

Answer 1

Strep can be difficult to tell from a bad sore throat unless you really know what to look for.  If your throat is swollen and intensely sore to the point where it is quite painful to swallow your own saliva then I'd recommend getting a strep test.  Strep tests are uncomfortable but nothing to fear.  It only takes a few seconds and then it's over.  If you have never had one, all it is is a long Q-tip looking thing that a doctor or med tech will swab the back of your throat with.

Answer 2

Take it from an expert of strep tests lol that it isn't that big of a deal. when they put the swab down your throat just close your eyes and it isn't so bad. You will be fine :]

Answer 3

Hello - only a doctor can tell if its strep.  There are a lot of diseases that have sore throats, so it could be anything.  Step tests are harmless.  Not fun, but it doesn't hurt, and it only takes a few seconds to do.  

As for taking antibiotics (Doxycycline) for an undiagnosed disease without a doctors permission - This is not a good thing to do for a number of reasons.  First off, if its viral and not bacterial, Doxycycline will not work, so you are taking drugs unnecessarily.  If Doxycycline is not approved for your sickness, you could be making a drug resistant form of the bacteria.  This is very dangerous, and drug resistant infections are one of the biggest killers from disease.  You were given the drugs for something else.  If you took them correctly, you shouldn't have any left.  By using less than the recommended amount, or not following through with the 2 weeks of drugs regimen or recommended time, you are going to create drug resistant bacteria.  Antibiotics are a wonderful drug that has saved billions of lives.  But it is over used, and used for sicknesses that will not be cured by antibiotics.  

Sorry for the rant, but the creation of superbugs that doesn't respond to antibiotics is the scariest things I can think of.  And already, drug resistant Staph in hospitals is a large problem.  Think what would happen if the an easily cured disease like pneumonia would become drug resistant, and airborne.

Answer 4

all they do for a strep test is take a long q-tip and swab the back of your throat. that's it. nothing more. they send the swab to the lab to be tested, and you can have your results in as little as 2 hours. the only discomfort you need to prepare for is the possibility of gagging when the doc swabs your throat.

as far as the medication you are taking... if it wasn't perscribed TO YOU, then you need to stop taking it. the doc will likely perscribe you a different antibiotic, at a different dosage. if it was perscribed to you. then just do what you were instructed to do.