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- Adults can get strep throat. But, as you get older, it’s much more common to have a sore throat from a virus than strep throat. Sore throats from viruses don’t need to be treated with antibiotics, which means you can treat your sore-throat symptoms at home.
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Runny nose. Red or watery eyes. Sneezing. Cough. So, what’s the difference between a sore throat and strep throat? For starters, having a cough is a major symptom that sets a sore throat apart from strep. “You do not have a cough with strep. If you’re coughing, that typically means no strep,” says Dr. Allan.
Aug 16, 2022 · Symptoms include a painful sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands, and white patches on the tonsils. A respiratory illness or environmental irritant could cause a sore throat. If your sore throat is due to strep throat you may require antibiotics to cure the infection and prevent complications.
- Overview
- Symptom comparison
- Causes
- Diagnosis
- Treatments
- When to see a doctor
- The bottom line
Strep throat is usually accompanied by a fever and white patches on your tonsils. But the only way to be sure it’s strep throat is to have a strep test done.
To go or not to go to the doctor? That’s often the question when you have a sore, scratchy throat. If your sore throat is due to strep throat, a doctor can prescribe you antibiotics. But if it’s due to a virus, like a cold, then treatments are of the at-home variety.
The following are differences in physical signs and symptoms that you may experience when you have a sore throat. However, it isn’t always clear by looking at the throat what type of infection a person has.
As you’ll see, several of the different sore throat causes have similar symptoms.
The following are some of the most common sore throat causes:
•Strep throat: The bacteria group A Streptococcus is the most common cause of strep throat.
•Sore throat (viral pharyngitis): Viruses are the most common cause of sore throat, including rhinoviruses or a respiratory syncytial virus. These viruses can cause other symptoms, such as:
•a cold
•earache
•bronchitis
In many cases, your age may clue in your doctor to the likely cause. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strep throat is most common in those ages 5 to 15. Adults and those younger than age 3 rarely get strep throat. An exception is when an adult comes in contact with children or is the parent of a school-age child.
Your doctor can also perform a visual examination of your throat, taking into consideration your signs and symptoms. If a strep throat is suspected, they can perform a quick test that involves swabbing the throat to test for the presence of group A strep bacteria. This test is called a rapid strep test.
Bacteria is the underlying cause of strep throat, so doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat it. Most patients report improved symptoms within 24 to 48 hours of taking antibiotics for strep throat.
While it’s nice that antibiotics can quickly improve symptoms, these medications are primarily given for strep throat because the condition can cause serious and chronic infections in other places, such as your heart, joints, and kidneys.
The medication of choice for strep throat is usually from the penicillin family — amoxicillin is a common one. However, other antibiotics are available if you’re allergic to these.
Unfortunately, antibiotics won’t work against viruses, including those that cause tonsillitis, mononucleosis, or sore throat.
To reduce throat pain, you can also try the following lifestyle remedies:
•Rest as much as possible.
See your doctor if you experience the following symptoms related to your sore throat:
•fever that’s higher than 101.5°F (37°C) for 2 days or more
•throat swelling that makes it difficult to swallow
•back of the throat has white patches or streaks of pus
•having difficulty breathing or swallowing
If your sore throat symptoms worsen, see your doctor or healthcare provider as soon as possible.
The throat is a vulnerable place to experiencing swelling and irritation due to colds, strep throat, ear infections, and more. The sudden onset of fever and other symptoms is one way to tell the difference between strep throat — which usually causes fever — and a sore throat due to a virus.
If you’re not sure or are in a lot of pain, talk with your doctor or another healthcare provider.
Nov 30, 2022 · Overview. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. Strep throat accounts for only a small portion of sore throats. If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever.
Feb 15, 2024 · On the other hand, a cough, runny nose, pink eye and a raspy or hoarse voice are all signs that your sore throat stems from a viral infection and is not strep, the CDC says. “When we start seeing all of those other symptoms, we're thinking it's more likely to be a virus than bacteria,” Martinez-Bianchi says. ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT.
- Rachel Nania
Feb 16, 2024 · Anyone can get strep throat, but some factors increase the risk of getting it. Age. Strep throat is more common in children than adults. Most common: Children 5 through 15 years old; Rare: Children younger than 3 years old; Close contact. Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. For example ...
Jan 11, 2023 · Jan. 11, 2023. Understanding the difference between sore throat and strep throat is important because each requires a different treatment. Photo: Getty Images. Sore throats are a common – and unwelcome – feature of the winter months in the United States, including Colorado.
