Strep throat is inflammation and swelling of the throat, tonsils, and lymph nodes due to infection with group A strep bacteria. Strep throat is highly contagious, and the bacteria responsible for causing the disease can be easily acquired upon entering in contact with contaminated people. Streptococcus bacteria are airborne and can be transmitted through droplets of mucus produced by coughing or sneezing. The incubation period for strep throat is around three days, and most symptoms of the disease emerge after this period. Strep throat often causes symptoms such as a cough, sore and sore throat, nausea, fatigue, weakness, headache, and moderate to high fever. To prevent the occurrence of complications, doctors recommend treating the disease with antibiotics.
Although they have been used in the treatment of strep throat for decades, some outdated antibiotics like penicillin and amoxicillin appear to be less effective in overcoming the condition these days. Doctors claim that bacterial strains have mutated and evolved considerably lately, rendering some forms of treatment ineffective in fighting infections. The main cause of the increased resistance of bacteria to penicillin and amoxicillin is improper treatment. Doctors explain that the misuse of antibiotics allows bacteria to adapt and even become immune to various types of drugs.
While penicillin and amoxicillin could successfully cure strep throat in the past, today more and more patients experience a recurrence of the disease shortly after treatment is completed. Recent research results estimate that about 30 percent of patients prescribed penicillin or amoxicillin experience a relapse of the disease. Due to its lower potency to fight bacteria, doctors strongly recommend not using more penicillin and amoxicillin-based antibiotics.
Modern medicine has rapidly developed more reliable substitutes for penicillin and amoxicillin. The age of antibiotics has provided us with a wide range of new and more effective drugs, such as cephalosporins. Doctors claim that cephalosporins are the best alternative to antiquated antibiotics today. Cephalosporins are stronger, more reliable, and safer than penicillin and amoxicillin and can completely defeat strep throat in less time. Doctors claim that cephalosporins can cure bacterial infections in 4 to 5 days of treatment, instead of 10, as in the case of other antibiotics. In addition, patients who are prescribed cephalosporins in the treatment of strep throat are less likely to experience a relapse of the infection.
Cephalosporins are available in tablet or capsule form and can be purchased at any pharmacy. However, like other antibiotics, cephalosporins are only released with a prescription and should not be used without a doctor’s recommendation.
