What type of treatment should be given for a Strep score of 0 to 1?

A Strep score of 0 to 1 indicates a low probability of streptococcal pharyngitis, based on the clinical scoring system often used in evaluation. In such cases, it is generally advised to provide symptomatic treatment for pharyngitis rather than immediate antibiotic therapy. This approach is appropriate because most cases of sore throat in this score range are viral in nature, and antibiotics would not be effective.

Symptomatic treatment typically involves measures to alleviate discomfort such as analgesics for pain relief, gargling with salt water, hydration, and rest. This helps manage the symptoms during the body’s natural recovery process without the unnecessary use of antibiotics, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance and other side effects.

In contrast, a throat culture would generally be reserved for cases with a higher score to confirm a strep infection when the clinical presentation suggests it. Referral to a specialist is not typically warranted for low-strep scores as most cases are manageable in primary care with appropriate symptomatic treatment.