✅ What telemedicine can do for sore throat / strep
🩺 Clinical evaluation
A clinician can assess:
Symptom onset and duration
Fever
Pain with swallowing
Cough absence (important for strep)
Swollen lymph nodes (by history)
Tonsillar exudates (via video, when possible)
Recent exposure to strep
Clinical decision tools (e.g., Centor or McIsaac criteria) are commonly used in telemedicine.
🧪 Testing coordination (key for strep)
Because strep throat requires confirmation, telemedicine can:
Order a rapid strep test at a lab, pharmacy clinic, or drive-through site
Sometimes arrange mail-in or in-clinic testing
Start treatment after a positive test
Some telemedicine programs may treat empirically in select high-risk cases, but testing is best practice.
💊 Treatment
Viral sore throat: supportive care (fluids, saltwater gargles, lozenges, NSAIDs)
Confirmed strep throat: prescribe antibiotics (e.g., penicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin if appropriate)
Prescribe pain relief and throat sprays
Provide work/school notes
🚨 When in-person care is needed
Telemedicine is not appropriate if there is:
Trouble breathing or swallowing saliva
Drooling or muffled “hot potato” voice
Severe unilateral throat pain (possible abscess)
Neck stiffness or swelling
Rash with fever (scarlet fever)
Persistent symptoms despite antibiotics
🧠 Why telemedicine works well
Initial risk stratification is history-driven
Testing can be coordinated remotely
Treatment decisions follow clear guidelines
Red flags are easy to identify
⚠️ Important caveat
Antibiotics should not be prescribed for strep without testing in most adults and children — telemedicine providers who follow guidelines will require confirmation.
✅ Bottom line
✔ Yes — telemedicine can safely evaluate sore throat and manage suspected or confirmed strep throat, including ordering tests and prescribing antibiotics when appropriate.
