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Can strep throat cause a sore throat?
How do you know if you have a strep throat?
Is a fever a sign of strep throat?
Jan 29, 2023 · Symptoms of sore throat vs. strep. Viral infections, like the common cold or flu, cause sore throats (pharyngitis). And it usually comes with other symptoms like: Runny nose. Red or watery eyes ...
- 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.
- Common Sore Throat or Something Else? We all know that raw, scratchy feeling in the back of the throat. It could just be dry winter air, seasonal allergies, or a plain old cold.
- Take a Good Look. Grab a flashlight, look in the mirror, and say, "Ahhh." You could find some important clues. You might see white dots or patches in the back of your throat.
- Do You Have Cold Symptoms? If you have a cough and drippy nose along with your sore throat, that could be good news. You may feel crummy, but you're less likely to have a serious infection.
- Do You Have a Fever? Colds can cause a fever, but it’s usually just a mild one. If you have a sore throat and a fever over 101 F, it's more likely to be a throat infection like strep than a simple cold.
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.
Nov 30, 2022 · Call your doctor if you or your child has any of these signs and symptoms: A sore throat accompanied by tender, swollen lymph glands; A sore throat that lasts longer than 48 hours; A fever; A sore throat accompanied by a rash; Problems breathing or swallowing; If strep has been diagnosed, a lack of improvement after taking antibiotics for 48 hours
Jan 19, 2024 · Worried your sore throat may be strep throat? Healthcare providers 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 the bacteria to others.
Mar 15, 2024 · Other cold symptoms such as a runny nose and congestion may follow the sore throat. Strep throat, which is an infection due to streptococcus bacteria, is another cause of sore throats and...
