Strep Throat Via Text? Sounds Crazy, But Here’s the Science!
Let’s talk about strep throat – that classic childhood (and sometimes adult) ailment that brings with it a sore throat, fever, and those dreaded white spots on the tonsils. It’s one of those conditions that often leads to a rush to the doctor, and rightfully so. And naturally, you might be wondering, “Can you really diagnose strep throat by just texting someone?”
It’s a valid question! And as a practicing ER physician of over 20 years, I completely understand the skepticism. So, let’s address the elephant in the room: Is it possible to accurately diagnose strep through our platform at Tap Telehealth? And more importantly, is it safe?
Of course, we know that the gold standard is a strep test done in a doctor’s office or a lab, there is no doubt about that. So we understand that it is important that patients have concerns about that, and we want you to know that you are right in having that concern!
But here’s the interesting part. As an ER physician, I often rely on specific criteria to help me determine if a patient’s sore throat is likely due to strep. It’s called the “Centor criteria,” and studies have shown that this specific set of clinical factors exceeds both the sensitivity and specificity of a rapid strep test! That’s right, good clinicians use their clinical skills to assess your symptoms first, before we even consider doing a strep test!
The Centor Criteria Explained
So, how do we use the Centor criteria at Tap Telehealth? It’s not as mysterious as it sounds. Here’s what we’ll ask about during a virtual visit:
If you have 3-4 of these criteria, the likelihood of a strep infection is quite high. These simple yet critical factors have been shown to be more accurate than a rapid strep test! If you only have 1 or 2 of these criteria, you are most likely suffering from a viral pharyngitis.
Bacterial vs. Viral Pharyngitis
It’s important to understand that the vast majority of sore throats are actually caused by viruses, not bacteria. Most of the time, your body’s immune system is perfectly capable of fighting off those infections, and your sore throat will get better on its own, without any need for antibiotics. That’s one of the biggest problems of over-prescribing antibiotics in general. That said, when you have strep, we do want to treat that to prevent complications. We only want to treat bacterial pharyngitis with antibiotics, and we want to do it safely.
Treatment Approach
So, based on your symptoms, we’ll make an assessment. If you have a high probability for strep infection, we’ll likely recommend antibiotics. If not, we’ll focus on supportive care, and guidance on when to seek further in person medical care. We’ll always make the best recommendations for you based on your specific symptoms!
“But what about those serious conditions that can masquerade as strep?” Great question. This is where our training and expertise are key. We’re trained to look for red flag conditions, such as:
If we notice any of these, we will absolutely recommend that you seek in-person medical care right away. Your safety is our top priority. We take safety seriously!
So, can you really diagnose strep through text? The short answer is yes. Withthe Centor criteria and careful questioning, along with our expertise, and the additional option of a simple selfie of your tonsils, we can accurately identify those at a higher risk for strep and provide them with appropriate treatment while also avoiding unnecessary antibiotics for those with viral infections. It’s a mix of modern technology, old-fashioned clinical acumen, and a big focus on patient safety.
Ready to get a fast, accurate assessment for that sore throat? Tap into Tap Telehealth today and see how we can help!
