Urgent Care for Strep Throat
Sore throat with fever, white patches on tonsils, and no cough. Strep needs antibiotics — urgent care can test and treat in one visit.
Find Urgent Care Near You$100-$200
At urgent care. ER treatment for the same condition typically costs 5-15× more.
Common Symptoms
- Sudden severe sore throat
- Pain when swallowing
- Fever (often 101°F+)
- Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or pus
- Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Headache or stomach ache (common in children)
- No cough (a cough usually means it's a virus, not strep)
How Urgent Care Treats Strep Throat
- Rapid strep test (results in 5-10 minutes)
- Throat culture (if rapid test is negative but suspicion is high)
- Prescribe antibiotics (penicillin or amoxicillin) on the same visit
- Provide work or school excuse
- Rule out mono with a quick blood test if symptoms suggest it
What to Expect at Your Visit
A typical strep visit at urgent care is 30-45 minutes. The provider swabs the back of your throat (mildly uncomfortable for 2 seconds), runs the rapid test, and either prescribes antibiotics or sends a culture if the rapid is negative. Most people feel significantly better within 24-48 hours of starting antibiotics. Cost: $100-$200.
- Trouble breathing or swallowing your own saliva
- Drooling because you can't swallow
- Severe one-sided throat pain with muffled voice (could be peritonsillar abscess)
- High fever with stiff neck
Frequently Asked
How fast do strep antibiotics work?
Most people feel meaningfully better within 24-48 hours of starting penicillin or amoxicillin. You're considered non-contagious 24 hours after the first dose. Finish the full course (usually 10 days) even if you feel better — incomplete treatment can lead to complications.
Can I get strep without a fever?
It's uncommon but possible. About 80% of strep cases involve fever. If your symptoms strongly suggest strep but you don't have a fever, the rapid test will still tell you definitively.
Urgent Care Clinics That Can Help
0 mi · Miami, FL
0 mi · Miami, FL
0 mi · Orlando, FL
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Always call 911 for emergencies and consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.