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Strep throat medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aysha Anwar, M.B.B.S[2]

Overview

The mainstay of therapy for strep throat is antibiotic therapy. Treatment will help reduce symptoms, minimize transmission, and reduce the likelihood of complications.[1]

Medical therapy

The mainstay of therapy for strep throat is medical therapy. Treatment will help reduce symptoms, minimize transmission, and reduce the likelihood of complications. Antibiotic treatment recommended for strep throat include the following:[1][2]

For individuals without penicillin allergy
Drug, Route Recommended dose Duration
Penicillin V, oral

Children: 250 mg twice daily or 3 times daily; adolescents and adults: 250 mg 4 times daily or 500 mg twice daily

10 days

Amoxicillin, oral

50 mg/kg once daily (max = 1000 mg); Alternate:25 mg/kg (max = 500 mg) twice daily

10 days

Benzathine penicillin G, intramuscular

<27 kg: 600 000 U; ≥27 kg: 1 200 000 U

1 dose

For individuals with penicillin allergy
Cephalexin, oral

20 mg/kg/dose twice daily (max = 500 mg/dose)

10 days

Cefadroxil, oral

30 mg/kg once daily (max = 1 g)

10 days

Clindamycin, oral

7 mg/kg/dose 3 times daily (max = 300 mg/dose)

10 days

Azithromycin, oral

12 mg/kg once daily (max = 500 mg)

5 days

Clarithromycin, oral

7.5 mg/kg/dose twice daily (max = 250 mg/dose)

10 days

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 http://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-hcp/strep-throat.html Accessed on October 18, 2016
  2. Shulman ST, Bisno AL, Clegg HW, Gerber MA, Kaplan EL, Lee G; et al. (2012). “Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis: 2012 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America”. Clin Infect Dis. 55 (10): e86–102. doi:10.1093/cid/cis629. PMID 22965026.


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