Yes, they are! Strep throat is most common among children between the ages of 5 and 15, but adults aren’t immune from getting the infection.

Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN team shares some helpful information about strep throat and AFC’s rapid test accuracy below!

What Is Strep Throat?

According to the CDC, strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called Group A Streptococcus.

Strep lives in the nose and throat and can be spread by coughing or sneezing, which spreads respiratory droplets into the air that contain the strep bacteria. The first symptoms of strep are a sore throat, followed by difficulty swallowing and fever. If you experience any of the symptoms that we’ve listed below, you likely have strep throat and should visit our AFC center quickly to get tested!

Common Strep Throat Symptoms

• Sudden sore throat
• Red tonsils that have white spots on them
• Pain when swallowing
• Fever
• Swollen neck glands
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Abdominal pain

How Accurate Are AFC’s Rapid Tests?

According to sources, the rapid strep test has a 98% specificity rate. This means that 98 of 100 positive tests correctly indicate the presence of Group A Streptococcus bacteria.

Furthermore, strep throat isn’t the only contagious illness to be on the lookout for this summer, and it isn’t the only type of rapid test that our AFC center offers! We offer rapid strep, flu and COVID-19 tests that all provide accurate results within 15 minutes or less. So, if you’re feeling under the weather, don’t hesitate to visit our AFC center for a rapid test to confirm your diagnosis. In the meantime, do your best to keep others healthy by limiting the spread of germs.

Ways to Limit the Spread of Germs

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.
• Discard used tissues in the trash as soon as you can.
• Always wash your hands after sneezing, blowing your nose or coughing, or after touching used tissues or handkerchiefs.
• Use warm water and soap to wash your hands. If you don’t have soap and water, use alcohol-based hand gel or disposable wipes.
• Stay home if you have a cough and fever.
• See your doctor as soon as you can if you have a cough and fever, and follow their instructions. Take medicine as prescribed and get lots of rest.

Feeling under the weather? Don’t wait to visit our AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN center!