You wake up and it feels like you swallowed a handful of jagged glass shards. Or maybe a cactus. Honestly, the "glass" analogy is a bit overused, but when it's your throat, nothing else really captures that specific, searing agony. You try to swallow. Big mistake. You look in the mirror, shine your phone flashlight back there, and see those tell-tale white patches. Now you’re panicking. You need to know how to get rid of strep before your entire week is ruined.
Here is the cold, hard truth: you cannot just "essential oil" your way out of a true Streptococcus pyogenes infection.
Strep is a bacterial infection. It isn't a cold. It isn't the flu. While those are viral and require rest and soup, strep is a different beast entirely. It’s caused by Group A Streptococcus. If you leave it alone, it doesn't just "go away" like a runny nose. It can linger, it can spread to your sinuses, or in rare, scary cases, it can lead to rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis). We aren't in the 1800s anymore; we have tools for this.
The Absolute First Step in How to Get Rid of Strep
Stop guessing. Seriously.
You might think you know it’s strep because your cousin had it last week and now you have a fever. But did you know that roughly 70% to 90% of sore throats in adults are actually viral? If you take antibiotics for a virus, you’re doing zero favors for your body. You're just nuking your gut biome for no reason.
You need a Rapid Antigen Detection Test (RADT).
Go to an urgent care. Most of these places can give you results in fifteen minutes. If the rapid test comes back negative but the doctor is still suspicious—maybe your tonsils are huge and you have a 102-degree fever—they’ll send a "throat culture" to a lab. That takes 24 to 48 hours. It’s the gold standard. According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), clinical diagnosis alone (just looking at the throat) is notoriously unreliable.
The Medication Reality Check
Once that test pops positive, the clock starts.
To effectively how to get rid of strep, you almost certainly need antibiotics. Penicillin and Amoxicillin are still the heavy hitters here. They’ve been around forever because they work. Most people start feeling significantly better within 24 to 48 hours of the first dose. It feels like a miracle. One day you're dying, the next day you're thinking about eating a burger.
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But here is where everyone messes up.
They stop taking the pills.
"I feel great!" you say, tossing the orange pill bottle into the back of the cabinet. Don't do that. When you stop early, you’ve killed the weak bacteria, but the "strong" ones—the ones that survived the first few rounds—are still there. They multiply. Now you have a recurrent infection that might be resistant to the initial drug. Finish the entire ten-day course. Every. Single. Pill.
What About Natural Remedies?
Can you get rid of strep naturally? No.
Can you manage the symptoms naturally while the antibiotics do the heavy lifting? Absolutely.
Honey is actually backed by some decent science. A study published in the journal Archives of Medical Research noted that certain types of honey have antibacterial properties, though they aren't strong enough to clear a systemic Group A Strep infection on their own. It coats the throat. It helps.
Saltwater gargles are another one. It’s boring advice, I know. But it works because of osmosis. The salt pulls moisture out of the inflamed tissues in your throat, reducing swelling. Use about half a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Don't swallow it. That's gross. Just gargle and spit.
Managing the Pain While You Wait
While the antibiotics are prepping their attack, you’re still in pain.
- NSAIDs over Tylenol: Generally, Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) or Naproxen (Aleve) work better for strep because they are anti-inflammatories. Strep is, by definition, an inflammatory nightmare. Reducing that swelling is key.
- The Marshmallow Myth: There is a weird internet rumor that eating marshmallows helps strep. The logic is that the gelatin coats the throat. Is there a clinical trial for this? No. Will it hurt? Probably not, unless the sugar irritates you.
- Cold vs. Heat: This is personal. Some people swear by popsicles (avoid the citrus ones, the acid burns). Others want hot tea with lemon. If your throat is incredibly swollen, cold usually helps constrict blood vessels and numb the nerves.
The "Contagious" Window and Your Toothbrush
You are a biological hazard for the first 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
Stay home. Don't go to work. Don't go to the gym. The CDC is pretty clear that you’re generally no longer contagious once you've been on the right meds for a full day and your fever is gone.
Now, let's talk about your toothbrush. People argue about this. Some doctors say you must throw it away after 24 hours of antibiotics to avoid re-infecting yourself. Others say the risk is low. Honestly? A new toothbrush is three dollars. Just buy a new one. It’s better than risking a second round of that misery. Also, wash your pillowcases in hot water.
When It Isn't Just "A Sore Throat"
Sometimes, you try everything to how to get rid of strep and things go south.
If you find you can’t open your mouth all the way (trismus), or if one side of your throat is bulging way more than the other, you might have a peritonsillar abscess. This is a pocket of pus that forms near the tonsils. It’s an emergency. You might also notice a "hot potato voice," where you sound like you’re talking with a mouthful of hot food. If that happens, stop reading this and go to the ER. They may need to drain it.
Why Does It Keep Coming Back?
If you get strep three or four times a year, you aren't just unlucky. You might be a "carrier."
Some people have Strep pyogenes living in their throats constantly, but it doesn't always make them sick. However, when they get a viral cold, it "activates" the strep or they test positive because the bacteria is just hanging out there.
If your kids keep getting it, check everyone in the house. Sometimes a "silent" carrier is passing it around like a hot potato. In chronic cases, an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist) might suggest a tonsillectomy. It’s not as common as it was in the 1950s, but for people who get strep five times a year, it can be a life-changer.
Actionable Steps to Recover Now
If you think you have it, here is your immediate checklist:
- Get Tested Immediately: Don't wait three days to see if it "goes away." If it's strep, the sooner you start antibiotics, the less you suffer.
- Hydrate Like Your Life Depends On It: Dehydration makes the mucus in your throat thick and irritating. Drink water, broth, or Pedialyte.
- Replace Your Toothbrush: Do this on day two of your antibiotic treatment.
- Humidify: Dry air is the enemy. Run a cool-mist humidifier while you sleep to keep your throat from drying out and cracking.
- Rest: This sounds like "mom advice," but your immune system needs energy to clear the debris the antibiotics leave behind.
Strep is a rite of passage for many, but it's one you want to exit as quickly as possible. Follow the meds, keep the salt water handy, and stay isolated until that 24-hour mark passes.