That raw, scratchy throat. The pain when you swallow. The fever that showed up out of nowhere. You might think it’s just a cold, but it could be strep throat.
Unlike viral sore throats, strep is a bacterial infection that needs prompt treatment. At OBUR Health, we offer rapid, accurate strep throat treatment in Houston, including virtual consults, in-home strep testing, and clinic visits, because when your throat’s on fire, you need fast answers.
Strep throat is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A strep). It spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or close contact, especially in schools, homes, or workplaces.
Strep can escalate if left untreated, potentially leading to complications like scarlet fever, kidney inflammation, or rheumatic fever.
Sometimes, but untreated strep increases the risk of serious complications. Antibiotics shorten illness time and stop it from spreading.
You’ll usually feel improvement within 24–48 hours of starting antibiotics. Just be sure to finish the full course.
Very. They detect Group A strep antigens with high specificity. If needed, we can follow up with a throat culture for confirmation.
You’re typically no longer contagious 24 hours after starting antibiotics, if your fever is gone.