Strep Throat Urgent Care Surfside, FL

Strep throat is contagious from the time symptoms appear — and potentially 24 to 48 hours before symptoms begin. Without antibiotics, a person with strep throat typically remains contagious for 2 to 3 weeks even if symptoms improve. With appropriate antibiotic treatment, contagiousness drops dramatically within 24 hours. Most people are no longer contagious after 24 hours of antibiotics and once fever-free.

You may return to school or work when you have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours and are fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours. Most people are able to return within 1 to 2 days of starting treatment. Your TrufaMED physician can provide written documentation for your employer or school administration if needed.

All three can cause severe sore throat and swollen lymph nodes, which is why clinical evaluation and testing are essential. Strep throat is bacterial, responds to antibiotics, and typically lacks runny nose or cough. Mono (infectious mononucleosis) is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus — it tends to cause profound fatigue, significant lymph node swelling, and splenomegaly. COVID-19 typically presents with additional respiratory symptoms, loss of smell, or taste changes. At TrufaMED, rapid testing for strep, influenza, and COVID-19 is available on the same visit when the clinical picture warrants it.

TrufaMED accepts most major insurance plans, and rapid strep testing is typically covered as part of an urgent care visit. For patients paying out of pocket, our team will provide transparent cost information at check-in. We accept HSA and FSA cards as well. Call (305) 537-6396 for current self-pay visit rates.

Recurring strep throat — typically defined as more than 3 confirmed episodes per year — is common in school-age children and warrants further evaluation. Potential factors include persistent household carrier status (someone in the family carrying strep without symptoms), tonsillar crypts that harbor bacteria, or immune factors. Your TrufaMED physician can evaluate patterns of recurrence, test household contacts when indicated, and discuss whether referral for tonsillectomy evaluation is appropriate. This is a common and manageable situation.

A negative rapid strep test does not automatically rule out strep in patients with strong clinical symptoms. TrufaMED physicians use a protocol consistent with IDSA guidelines — if your clinical presentation is highly suspicious despite a negative rapid test, a throat culture is sent to confirm. You will be contacted with results within 24 to 48 hours and treated appropriately if culture is positive. Your physician will also evaluate you for other causes of your symptoms including mono, influenza, and COVID-19.

Yes. A rapid mono test (monospot test) is available on-site at TrufaMED. If your physician suspects mono based on your symptoms — particularly significant fatigue, diffuse lymphadenopathy, or an unusually severe presentation — they can add this test to your visit. Mono requires different management than strep, including activity restrictions to protect the spleen.

TrufaMED accepts most major insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Oscar Health*, and Medicare. Self-pay and HSA/FSA payment are always welcome. Please note that () and are not currently accepted. Call (305) 537-6396 if you have questions about your specific coverage.

Strep throat symptoms often improve on their own within 7 to 10 days even without antibiotics. However, treating with antibiotics is strongly recommended because: it speeds recovery by 1 to 2 days, it reduces contagiousness within 24 hours, and — most importantly — it prevents the serious complications of untreated strep, including rheumatic fever, kidney inflammation, and peritonsillar abscess. The risk-benefit calculation strongly favors treatment with a short antibiotic course.

A strep carrier is someone who tests positive for Group A Strep but has no symptoms — they are rarely contagious but can occasionally re-infect household members with recurrent strep. If your family experiences repeated strep episodes, your TrufaMED physician can evaluate household contacts with throat swabs to identify carrier status. Carriers may require a different antibiotic regimen to clear carriage.

Yes. A board-certified physician is on duty during all operating hours, every day — Monday-Friday 9 AM-9 PM, Saturday 11 AM-11 PM, Sunday 12 PM-8 PM. You will always be seen or directly supervised by a physician, not a nurse practitioner or physician assistant acting independently. This physician-led model is a defining feature of TrufaMED and the reason we carry Joint Commission accreditation — Florida’s only accredited urgent care.