Strep Throat Testing in Las Cruces
Severe sore throat? Get a rapid strep test with results in 10 minutes at Covenant Clinic. Walk-ins welcome every day.
What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. Unlike a typical sore throat from a cold, strep throat tends to hit fast and hard -- your throat becomes extremely painful, swallowing feels like a chore, and you may spike a fever seemingly out of nowhere. It is most common in children between ages 5 and 15, but adults get it too, especially during the school year when it spreads easily in close quarters.
The key difference between strep and a viral sore throat is that strep requires antibiotics to clear the infection and prevent complications. That is why getting tested matters. At Covenant Clinic in Las Cruces, our rapid strep test gives you an answer in about 10 minutes so you can start treatment the same day and get back to feeling normal faster.
Common Strep Throat Symptoms
Strep throat comes on suddenly. Key warning signs include:
- Severe sore throat without a cough
- Pain or difficulty when swallowing
- Fever of 101°F or higher
- Red, swollen tonsils with white patches
- Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck
- Headache or body aches
- Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Nausea or vomiting (especially in children)
When to Visit Covenant Clinic
Not every sore throat is strep, but certain signs should prompt a visit to our clinic:
- Sore throat with fever but no cough or runny nose -- this pattern suggests bacteria rather than a virus
- Painful swallowing that makes it hard to eat or drink
- Visible white patches on swollen tonsils
- Known strep exposure -- if someone at home, school, or work was recently diagnosed
- Sore throat lasting more than 48 hours that is not improving on its own
- Children with sore throat and stomach symptoms like nausea or vomiting
Getting tested early is important. Antibiotics work best when started promptly, and they help prevent rare but serious complications like rheumatic fever.
What to Expect
A strep throat visit at Covenant Clinic is quick and straightforward -- typically under 30 minutes.
Walk in or save your spot online. We will get you into an exam room as quickly as possible.
A provider quickly swabs the back of your throat. The rapid antigen test gives results in about 10 minutes.
If the test is positive, we prescribe antibiotics (usually amoxicillin or penicillin) on the spot. You should start feeling better within 24 to 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
A regular sore throat is usually caused by a virus and comes with cold symptoms like a runny nose, cough, and hoarseness. Strep throat is caused by bacteria, tends to come on suddenly, and typically does not include a cough or congestion. Instead, strep causes severe throat pain, fever, swollen tonsils with white patches, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Only a rapid strep test can confirm the diagnosis.
Without treatment, strep throat can be contagious for 2 to 3 weeks. Once you start antibiotics, you are typically no longer contagious after 24 hours. Stay home from work or school until you have been on antibiotics for at least a full day and your fever has resolved.
Untreated strep throat can lead to serious complications including rheumatic fever (which can damage the heart), kidney inflammation, and peritonsillar abscess. This is why it is important to get tested and treated with antibiotics rather than trying to wait it out.
The rapid strep test at Covenant Clinic provides results in about 10 minutes. A provider swabs the back of your throat, and the test detects the presence of Group A Streptococcus bacteria. If the rapid test is positive, we start antibiotics immediately.
Sore Throat? Get a Rapid Strep Test Today.
Walk in or save your spot online. Open 7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM.