Throat Shot

Throat Shot
Medically Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD on August 12, 2020
Next In Strep Throat What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat , caused by bacteria, is one type of sore throat that can be treated. It isn't handled in the same way as sore throats caused by colds and other viruses, so your doctor will likely do what’s called a “rapid strep test” to be sure it's strep
If the test is positive (meaning you or your child has it), they’ll probably recommend:
This class of drugs is able to kill the group A Streptococcus bacteria that cause strep throat. They will work only on bacteria. They have no effect on sore throats caused by viruses.
Doctors most often prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin (Amoxil) to treat strep throat. They are the top choices because they're safer, inexpensive, and they work well on strep bacteria.
Kids or adults who are allergic to penicillin may be able to take one of these antibiotics instead:
Your child will take antibiotics by mouth one to three times each day. Sometimes doctors give this medicine as a shot.
Antibiotics sometimes cause side effects, such as:
Usually these side effects are mild. They should stop once your child finishes the medicine. If they are severe or persist, then call your doctor.
People sometimes have an allergy to antibiotics, though it is rare. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
Call your doctor right away if your child has these symptoms.
Most antibiotic treatments for strep throat last about 10 days. Kids usually feel better a day or two after they start them. Once they've been on these drugs for about 24 hours, they're no longer contagious and can go back to school.
Even after kids start to feel better, they should finish all their pills. You can leave some bacteria alive if you stop too soon. If strep is not fully treated, it might lead to complications such as:
When people stop taking antibiotics too soon, the bacteria that cause strep can become resistant to the medication. That means another case of strep would be much harder to control.
Until the antibiotics start to work, these home treatments can help you or your child feel better:
Steer clear of anything that might bother your throat, like cigarette smoke, paint fumes, or cleaning products.
American Academy of Family Physicians: "IDSA Updates Guideline for Managing Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis," "Strep Throat."
American Association for Clinical Chemistry: "Strep Throat Test."
CDC: "Is It Strep Throat?" "Sore Throat."
Cleveland Clinic: "Group A Streptococcal Infections."
National Health Service: "Antibiotics -- Side effects."
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: "Is It Strep Throat?"
Nemours Foundation: "Strep Throat."
PubMed Health: "Strep Throat" and "Strep Throat: Treatments."
Sores, discoloration, bumps and more.
© 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more .

Medically reviewed by
Anju Goel, MD, MPH

Learn about our
Medical Expert Board

How long do you feel bad after the flu shot?

Do you shed the flu virus after getting the vaccine?

Does the seasonal flu vaccine affect your heart?

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

What Is the Flu Incubation Period This Year?

After the Flu Shot: Allergic Reaction or Common Side Effect?

Breakdown of What’s in the Flu Shot

When to Get Your Flu Shot for 2022/2023

If You're Over 65, a High-Dose Flu Shot May Offer Best Protection

Get Info on How Food Allergies Can Make You Allergic to Some Vaccines

Getting a Flu Shot Might Lower Stroke Risk

Is a Preservative-Free Flu Shot Safer?

What Are the Facts About the Flu Shot?

Which Shots to Get and Which to Avoid During Cancer Treatment

Expect Mild Side Effects From COVID-19 Vaccines, CDC Advisory Group Says

CDC: You Can Get the Flu Shot and a COVID Vaccine Together

How FluMist Nasal Flu Vaccine Works

Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

Verywell Health is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Review our Privacy Policy

Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention.
Anju Goel, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine. She has over 10 years of experience in the California public health system addressing communicable disease, health policy, and disaster preparedness.

The flu shot is the best protection against seasonal flu . This is why millions of people get the influenza vaccine each year.

While very few serious side effects have been reported, people have been known to experience mild side effects to the flu shot or nasal spray flu vaccine ( FluMist ).

This article discusses both mild and common side effects and their symptoms. It also explains some of the myths about the vaccine, and special situations for people with a history of allergic reactions.

An annual flu shot offers safe and effective protection against the seasonal flu. The side effects are typically mild. They are caused by the immune response that boosts your immunity to the virus.

Side effects common to both the flu shot and FluMist nasal spray include:

There are also side effects specific to the flu shot or the FluMist nasal spray. For example, cough can occur after receiving FluMist. 2

Flu shots are produced by using inactive viruses. This means they have been killed and are not infectious. Side effects from the shot can include pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site. 1

The FluMist nasal spray is a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). This means it is made with live viruses that have been weakened. They are unable to cause influenza illness . These weakened viruses can only multiply at cooler temperatures, like those found in the nose. They cannot survive at normal body temperature. 3

Side effects of the nasal spray can include: 1

There is a common misconception that the flu vaccine can give you the flu . This is not true, and neither the flu shot nor the flu nasal spray will infect you with influenza. 4

The vaccines used to prevent influenza are safe and effective. Many do not contain live virus at all, and even the vaccines that are made with a weaker form of live virus cannot cause the flu. Most people will experience mild side effects, or even none at all. That's true of both the commonly used flu shots and the FluMist nasal spray.

In very rare cases, people may have serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after getting the vaccine. Signs of anaphylaxis include: 5

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. If left untreated, it can lead to loss of consciousness, shock , coma, heart or respiratory failure, and death. 5

This severe reaction typically occurs within five to 30 minutes of coming into contact with an allergy-causing substance ( allergen ). In some cases, symptoms may appear more than an hour later. 6

A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found the estimated rate of anaphylaxis after all vaccines is 1.31 cases per one million doses. The rate was 1.6 cases per million doses for a typical influenza vaccine. 7

Anyone who has experienced a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past should not get the vaccine again in the future. Of note, people who have had a mild allergic reaction (such as hives the next day) can and should continue to receive the annual flu vaccine. 8

For many years, people with egg allergies avoided flu shots. This is because the vaccine was initially produced using chicken eggs, posing a potential risk for a reaction. 9

New recombinant flu vaccines are made without eggs, making them safe for people with egg allergies. They include Flublok quadrivalent (for adults 18 and older) and Flucelvax quadrivalent (for people 4 years and older).

You should tell your healthcare provider if you have an egg allergy before getting the flu shot. Still, it's important to know that this should not prevent you from getting the vaccine.

The risk of an allergic response to any flu vaccine is extremely low. This includes vaccines that are egg-based. As such, the CDC recommends the vaccine even for people who have a history of egg allergies or who have had mild hives after vaccination.

People with a history of severe allergic reactions to eggs should get the flu shot at their healthcare provider's office. The provider can watch them for signs of a reaction and manage the symptoms quickly. 7

It's true that people with chronic health conditions are at a greater risk of complications from the flu. However, they are at no greater risk for side effects from a flu shot. Flu vaccines have been proven safe in this vulnerable population of people. 10
On the other hand, the FluMist nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for people with certain chronic health conditions. This is due to possible complications from the weakened form of the live influenza virus it contains. 3

For years, there have been rumors to suggest the flu vaccine may cause autism . One of the claims is that preservatives such as thimerosal are a possible trigger for autism. 11

Research has shown that this is not the case. According to the CDC, thimerosal has a long history of safety. There is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses used in vaccines. 12

If you are concerned about preservatives in the flu vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider about other options. Most single-dose vials and prefilled syringes do not contain a preservative. This is because the products are used right away and not shared. The same applies to the FluMist nasal vaccine, which is also preservative-free. 11

An annual flu vaccine is safe and effective for preventing influenza. Many people report mild side effects, like muscle aches or low-grade fever, after getting the shot or nasal spray. These side effects are normal and do not mean that the vaccine gave you the flu. They typically go away in a day or two.

Some people with allergies, notably to eggs, need to be aware of the possibility of a reaction. Recombinant vaccines are an option because they are produced differently. People who have had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine should not receive it again.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about flu vaccine safety. That's especially true if you have heard rumors that the vaccine is unsafe because it may be the cause of autism.

You may feel soreness for a couple of days in the spot where you were injected with the flu vaccine. If you have side effects like low-grade fever , headache, fatigue , or muscle ache , your symptoms should go away after a day or two. 4
If you get the live attenuated vaccine , which is in the FluMist nasal spray, it’s possible that you may shed the live virus for up to 11 days after being inoculated. 13 Shedding with this type of vaccine is most common in young children.
In a positive way, yes. Research shows that getting the flu shot can lower your risk of heart attack , heart failure, and other major cardiac events during the following flu season. 14
Kalarikkai SM, Jaishankar GB. Influenza vaccine . In: StatPearls [Internet].
Mali S, Jambure R. Anaphylaxis management: current concepts . Anesth Essays Res . 2012 Jul-Dec;6(2):115-23. doi:10.4103/0259-1162.108284
World Allergy Organization. Anaphylaxis: synopsis .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu vaccine and people with egg allergies .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu vaccine safety information .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recombinant influenza (flu) vaccine .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu and people with diabetes .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thimerosal in flu vaccine .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frequently asked questions about thimerosal .
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Safety of influenza vaccines .

By Kristina Duda, RN

Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention.

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.

For a full list of topics: A-Z Index

Strep Throat: More common in children

Up to 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat
About 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Syndicate

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn

Español
繁體中文
Tiếng Việt
한국어
Tagalog
Русский
العربية
Kreyòl Ayisyen
Français
Polski
Português
Italiano
Deutsch
日本語
فارسی
English

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

Close

Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

For more information on CDC's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers .

Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Doctors can do a quick test to see if a sore throat is strep throat. Antibiotics can help people with strep throat feel better faster and prevent spreading it to others.
Viruses are the most common cause of a sore throat. However, strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep).
Group A strep live in the nose and throat and can easily spread to other people. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing, which creates small respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria. They can also spread the bacteria from infected sores on their skin.
It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep to become ill with strep throat.
It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.
Rarely, people can spread group A strep through food that is not handled properly (visit CDC’s food safety page ).
In general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of strep throat include:
Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting — especially in children. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash; when this happens it is known as scarlet fever (scarlatina).
The following symptoms suggest a virus is the cause of the illness instead of strep throat:
A sore throat that starts quickly, pain with swallowing, and fever are some of the common signs and symptoms of strep throat.
Anyone can get strep throat, but there are some factors that can increase the risk of getting this common infection.
Strep throat is more common in children than adults. It is most common in children 5 through 15 years old. It is very rare in children younger than 3 years old.
Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat include:
Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. For example, if someone has strep throat, the bacteria often spread to other people in their household.
Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Crowded settings can increase the risk of getting a group A strep infection. These settings include:
A doctor will determine what type of illness you have by asking about symptoms and doing a physical exam. If they think you might have strep throat, they will swab your throat to test for strep throat. There are two types of tests for strep throat: a rapid strep test and throat culture.
A rapid strep test involves swabbing the throat and running a test on the swab. The test quickly shows if group A strep is causing the illness. If the test is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics. If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab. A throat culture takes time to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. While it takes more time, a throat culture sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test misses. Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated strep throat infection. For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever following a strep throat infection.
Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.
Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Either penicillin or amoxicillin are recommended as a first choice for people who are not allergic to penicillin. Doctors can use other antibiotics to treat strep throat in people who are allergic to penicillin.
Someone who tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms (called a “carrier”) usually does not need antibiotics. They are less likely to spread the bacteria to others and very unlikely to get complications. If a carrier gets a sore throat illness caused by a virus, the rapid strep test can be positive. In these cases, it can be hard to know what is causing the sore throat. If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection. Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier.
Complications can occur after a strep throat infection. This can happen if the bacteria spread to other parts of the body. Complications can include:
People can get strep throat more than once. Having strep throat does not protect someone from getting it again in the future. While there is no vaccine to prevent strep throat, there are things people can do to protect themselves a
Brother And Sister Sex Skachat
Twitter Mallu Grand Aunty
Bechet Petite

Throat Shot

Report Page