Untreated<unk>  usually resolves within a few days. Treatment with antibiotics shortens the duration of the acute illness by about 16 hours. The primary reason for treatment with antibiotics is to reduce the risk of complications such as rheumatic fever and retropharyngeal abscesses. Antibiotics prevent acute rheumatic fever if given within 9 days of the onset of symptoms. Pain medication Pain medication such as NSAIDs and paracetamol (acetaminophen) helps in the management of pain associated with strep throat. Viscous lidocaine may also be useful. While steroids may help with the pain, they are not routinely recommended. Aspirin may be used in adults but is not recommended in children due to the risk of Reye syndrome. Antibiotics The antibiotic of choice in the United States for<unk>  is penicillin V, due to safety, cost, and effectiveness. Amoxicillin is preferred in Europe. In India, where the risk of rheumatic fever is higher, intramuscular benzathine penicillin G is the first choice for treatment. Appropriate antibiotics decrease the average 3–5 day duration of symptoms by about one day, and also reduce contagiousness. They are primarily prescribed to reduce rare complications such as rheumatic fever and peritonsillar abscess. The arguments in favor of antibiotic treatment should be balanced by the consideration of possible side effects, and it is reasonable to suggest that no antimicrobial treatment be given to healthy adults who have adverse reactions to medication or those at low risk of complications. Antibiotics are prescribed for strep throat at a higher rate than would be expected from how common it is. Erythromycin and other macrolides or clindamycin are recommended for people with severe penicillin allergies. First-generation cephalosporins may be used in those with less severe allergies and some low certainty evidence suggest cephalosporins are superior to penicillin. These late-generation antibiotics show a similar effect when prescribed for 3–7 days in comparison to the standard 10-days of penicillin when used in areas of low rheumatic heart disease.<unk>  infections may also lead to acute glomerulonephritis; however, the incidence of this side effect is not reduced by the use of antibiotics.
Streptococcal pharyngitis
Pharyngitis
Otitis media
Epiglottitis
Chorditis
Infectious mononucleosis
Periodic fever syndrome
Peritonsillar abscess