If Your Child Gets Strep

Call your doctor right away if your child gets sick. Medications used to treat strep in some patients work best when started as early as possible.

• The doctor may start your child on an antibiotic in order to shorten the contagious period of your child’s strep throat.
• Keep your child away from others as to not spread the infection.
• Some over-the-counter medicines may be used to treat mild pain and fever, such as Tylenol or Advil.
• A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). If you are not able to measure a temperature, the child might have a fever if he or she feels warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.
• Keep your sick child home until at least 24 hours after the child no longer has a fever or signs of a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®).
• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants, Pedialyte®) to keep from being dehydrated.
• You can consider sending your child back to school after at least 24 hours has passed since his or her temperature returned to normal WITHOUT the use of medications.

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