Follow-up Treatment for Strep Throat
Children who have strep throat remain contagious until they have been on antibiotics for 1–3 days. They should not go back to school or daycare until the fever is gone and they have been taking the antibiotic for at least 24 hours.
If your child's fever does not go away within 2 or 3 days, or if your child does not seem to be getting better or is feeling worse, contact his or her doctor. A small percentage (about 5%) of strep throat cases are caused by bacteria that are resistant to the first antibiotic. If your child is not improving, a different antibiotic may be necessary.
To help prevent the spread of strep throat, do not allow your child to share eating utensils, dishes, drinking glasses, or towels. Wash utensils in hot, soapy water after each use.
Once your child has been on antibiotics for a few days, replace his or her toothbrush with a new one. Strep bacteria can survive on the toothbrush and re-infect the child after the course of antibiotics is complete.
