Strep throat is a bacterial infection which affects thousands of Americans every year. Typically, it is marked by throat inflammation, which makes swallowing very difficult. Tonsils appear to be swollen in this condition which interferes with normal eating habits. Severe soreness and throat irritation are the most common signs and symptoms of strep throat.
Though, several remedies are available for strep throat, antibiotics are also preferred. This is so because, antibiotics such as penicillin are effective in killing the bacteria which triggers sore throat. Also, this reduces the recovery time and also reduces the possibilities of spreading infection to other parts of the body. Concisely, antibiotics help in managing the infection effectively.
Strep Throat Antibiotics:
A few antibiotics are developed for treating sore throat problems. Often, they prove effective in relieving the symptoms of sore throat. The following are some of the antibiotics for strep throat:
- Erythromycin: Streptococcal infections which invade the throat may also be treated with erythromycin. The bacteria which causes sore throat are very sensitive to this antibiotic and cannot withstand its harmful effects on exposure to this medication. This drug impairs the bacteria’s DNA and hence, stops them from increasing in number.
- Amoxicillin: This drug belongs to the family of penicillin which gives considerable amount of relief to the sufferers of sore throat. Although, penicillin is suggested, people allergic to this drug can opt for amoxicillin. This amoxicillin can be taken orally once in a day. Hence, side effects are significantly less in this case.
- Penicillin: Penicillin has been used for years for treating strep throat. However, to get rid of the streptococcus bacteria, opting for an appropriate type of penicillin is very important. For strep throat, Penicillin V has been suggested by experts. This should be given orally for 10 days for eliminating sore throat. A single dosage of penicillin may not be sufficient in a day and mostly 2 – 3 doses must be taken for curing strep throat.
- Cephalosporins: These antibiotics are very useful in treating this condition. A recent study shows that the efficiency of this drug is more than amoxicillin and penicillin with less side effects. Health care providers say that it is now the time to replace penicillin with this antibiotic for treating sore throat. Cephalosporins are successful in treating strep throat.
