Strep throat self-care tips
Up to 3 in 10 sore throats in kids are from strep. But alongside medical treatment, it's possible to help with some symptom relief at home.
Strep throat can come on fast — it only takes two to five days after exposure to be become ill. People may develop a sudden sore throat, experience pain when swallowing or develop a fever. Generally, a prescribed antibiotic will treat a strep infection quickly, but in the meantime, people can help support their symptom relief at home.
This article walks through practical strep throat self-care tips people can try alongside medical treatment.
In this article:
Understanding strep throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus. Some common symptoms are a sore throat that starts suddenly, pain when swallowing, fever and swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck. Because the infection is bacterial, it needs antibiotic treatment to fully go away.
Managing strep throat
Health care providers prescribe antibiotics to treat strep throat. In addition to antibiotics, there are ways to help with symptom relief at home: Resting, hydrating and reaching for gentle foods like yogurt or soft fruits can give the body the care it needs to bounce back. These actions won't necessarily speed up recovery, but they can help manage symptoms and help people feel better.
8 strep throat self-care tips to help support symptom relief
If someone tests positive for strep throat, a health care provider will usually start them on antibiotics right away. If someone is in school or working, they may be advised to stay home until they are fever free and have been on antibiotics for 12 to 24 hours to help prevent the spread of infection.
In addition to antibiotics, there are some ways to help manage symptoms so that people can start feeling better, even after starting treatment. Below are some ways to help support symptom relief in those early days of recovery at home.
Experiencing strep throat symptoms? Schedule an appointment with a health care provider or visit a nearby MinuteClinic location today.
Soothing sore throat symptoms
A sore throat can be a symptom of strep throat. Using throat lozenges, like CVS Fast Acting throat lozenges can help temporarily support symptom relief of minor throat irritation, which might help make a sore throat feel more comfortable.
Preventing the spread of germs
Strep throat is contagious, so clean hands can help limit its spread. Hand sanitizer should have at least 60 percent alcohol concentration. Products like Purell Soothing Gel hand sanitizer can kill up to 99.99 percent of common germs that may cause illness if someone is unable to wash their hands with soap and water.
Easing fever and body aches
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help support symptom relief from strep throat that might make people feel run down. Options may include ibuprofen, like CVS Ibuprofen Liquid Filled soft gels, which may temporarily help relieve fever, minor aches and pains, or body aches.
It’s important to follow dosage instructions on the label or check with a health care provider to find out which option is best.
Using a cold-mist humidifier
A cold-mist humidifier can help add moisture in the air, especially during drier seasons or in heated indoor spaces. Low humidity can cause dry skin and irritate the throat. It’s recommended to follow the instructions on the humidifier and its packaging.
Swapping out toothbrushes
It might be a good idea to swap out a toothbrush once someone starts to feel a little better from strep. Bacteria from the infection can linger on the bristles. Using the same toothbrush may increase the risk of getting sick again. Replacing it with a fresh one can help keep the mouth cleaner moving forward.
Gargling with salt water
Gargling with warm salt water is another way that may help ease throat discomfort from strep. To make the solution, people can mix some table salt and water in a cup. After taking a sip, they can tilt their head back and let the salt water wash over their tonsils. Once gargling is done, it's recommended to spit it out — no swallowing! (And for little ones, caregivers should gently remind them to spit out the rinse).
Eating soothing foods
Eating with a sore throat might take longer than usual. But certain soft, chilly foods can be easier to swallow when the throat is feeling raw, and frozen goodies like sherbert, frozen yogurt or frozen fruit pops may be more soothing to swallow.
Avoiding irritants
Certain irritants can make symptoms feel worse. It’s best for people to avoid cigarette smoke and strong cleaning products. These irritants can aggravate the throat. Research shows that exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke can prolong recovery time from respiratory infections.
Supporting recovery from strep throat
For sore throat symptom relief
Throat sprays, like CVS sore throat spray, can temporarily relieve minor irritation and pain that come with a sore throat, which can be a symptom of strep.
For bedside comfort and cooler air quality
Humidifiers release mist into the air to increase the moisture in the air.
Key takeaways
People might experience uncomfortable symptoms with strep. But knowing how to help support strep throat symptom relief at home can make a difference during the recovery period. While undergoing antibiotic treatment, there are also steps people can take to help support symptom relief. These steps include setting up a cozy care space, staying hydrated, keeping up with oral hygiene, choosing soothing foods and making sleep a priority. Small adjustments like using a humidifier can also help to provide relief.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Full recovery can take about 10 days.
Strep throat can manifest as a sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, swollen and red tonsils and sometimes with white patches. Other adults might get swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and in some cases a red rash (scarlet fever).
Strep throat is contagious. It’s caused by bacteria that can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. It can also spread through touching contaminated surfaces or objects.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your health care provider if you have any questions about medications, vitamins or supplements you may be considering or changes to your wellness or health care routines.
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FOR UP TO 3 IN 10 SORE THROATS IN KIDS ARE FROM STREP SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Published March 1, 2024.
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FOR DEVELOP A SUDDEN SORE THROAT, EXPERIENCE PAIN WHEN SWALLOWING OR DEVELOP A FEVER SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Published July 31, 2025.
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FOR HELP SUPPORT THEIR SYMPTOM RELIEF AT HOME SOURCE: Mayo Clinic. Strep throat. Published November 30, 2022.
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FOR GROUP A STREPTOCOCCUS SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Group A strep infection. Published March 1, 2024.
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FOR SORE THROAT THAT STARTS SUDDENLY, PAIN WHEN SWALLOWING, FEVER AND SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Published July 31, 2025.
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FOR PRESCRIBE ANTIBIOTICS SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Published July 31, 2025.
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FOR RESTING, HYDRATING AND REACHING FOR GENTLE FOODS SOURCE: Mayo Clinic. Strep throat. Published November 30, 2022.
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FOR STAYING AT HOME 12 TO 24 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING TO SCHOOL OR WORK SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever. Published August 7, 2025.
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FOR THROAT LOZENGES SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sore throat basics. Published April 17, 2024.
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FOR STREP THROAT IS CONTAGIOUS SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Group A strep infection. Published July 31, 2025.
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FOR HAND SANITIZER SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hand sanitizer facts. Published April 17, 2024.
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FOR TAKING PAIN RELIEVERS SOURCE: MedlinePlus. Over-the-counter pain relievers. Updated October 27, 2024.
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FOR SYMPTOM RELIEVERS CAN HELP EASE THROAT PAIN SOURCE: Mayo Clinic. Strep throat. Published November 30, 2022.
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FOR USING A COLD-MIST HUMIDIFIER SOURCE: Mayo Clinic. Humidifiers: Ease skin, breathing symptoms. Published June 21, 2023.
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FOR SWAPPING OUT TOOTHBRUSHES SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. How often to change your toothbrush. Published April 30, 2025.
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FOR GARGLING WITH SALT WATER SOURCE: Mayo Clinic. Strep throat. Published November 30, 2022.
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FOR EATING SOOTHING FOODS SOURCE: Mayo Clinic. Strep throat. Published November 30, 2022.
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FOR CIGARETTE SMOKE, CLEANING PRODUCTS AND DRY AIR CAN AGGRAVATE THE THROAT SOURCE: Mayo Clinic. Strep throat. Published November 30, 2022.
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FOR IRRITANTS LIKE CIGARETTE SMOKE CAN PROLONG RECOVERY SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health. How tobacco smoke causes disease: the biology and behavioral basis for smoking: A report of the Surgeon General. Published 2010.
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FOR HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER FROM STREP THROAT SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Published July 31, 2025.
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FOR SOME STREP THROAT SYMPTOMS SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Published July 31, 2025.
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FOR IS STREP THROAT CONTAGIOUS SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. Strep throat. Accessed August 7, 2025.