Sometimes you are not sure if you have a sore throat or strep throat.

The difference between strep throat and a sore throat lies in their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and contagiousness.

Recognizing these differences can help in determining the appropriate course of action if you experience throat pain.

Symptoms of a Sore Throat:

  • Dryness or Scratchiness: A common initial sensation that can worsen over time.
  • Pain: Discomfort or pain, especially when swallowing or talking.
  • Redness: The back of the throat may appear red or irritated.
  • Swollen Tonsils: In some cases, the tonsils may swell but without the severe signs of strep throat.
  • Hoarseness: Changes in voice or hoarseness can occur, especially with prolonged discomfort.
  • Cough: Throat irritation may cause a dry cough.
  • Runny or Stuffy Nose: Often, a sore throat is accompanied by other cold-like symptoms.

Symptoms of Strep Throat:

  • Sore Throat: A sudden and severe sore throat that often makes swallowing painful.
  • Red and Swollen Tonsils: The tonsils may be red and have white patches or streaks of pus.
  • Fever: Generally, a high fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher can occur.
  • Headache: Many people experience headaches along with throat pain.
  • Enlarged Lymph Nodes: Lymph nodes in the neck can be painful and enlarged.
  • Rash: Some individuals develop a red, sandpaper-like rash (known as scarlet fever).
  • Nausea or Vomiting: Particularly in younger children, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain may accompany other symptoms.

What Are The Main Differences Between Strep Throat and Sore Throat?

Strep throat and sore throat are often confused, but they have key differences.

1. Cause:

– Strep Throat is caused by a specific bacterial infection, mainly Group A Streptococcus.

– Sore throat can be caused by many things. These include viral infections, like the common cold, allergies, dry air, or irritants.

2. Symptoms:

– Strep Throat often presents with sudden, severe throat pain, red and swollen tonsils, fever, headache, and sometimes stomach pain or rash. There may also be white patches on the tonsils.

– Sore throat symptoms can be extremely different. They can be mild or severe. A sore throat often comes with other cold symptoms. These may include coughing, sneezing, or a runny nose.

3. Diagnosis:

– Strep Throat can be diagnosed through a rapid strep test or throat culture conducted by a healthcare provider.

– Sore Throat generally doesn’t require specific tests unless strep is suspected.

4. Treatment:

– Strep Throat typically requires antibiotics to clear the infection.

– Sore Throat may be treated with home remedies or over-the-counter medications, depending on the underlying cause.

5. Contagiousness:

– Strep Throat is highly contagious and can spread through respiratory droplets.

– Sore Throat from a virus may also be contagious, but isn’t always.

What To Do If You Suspect You Have Strep Throat?

Make sure to visit your primary care provider or urgent care for treatment.

Testing will be performed in 1 or 2 ways:

  1. A throat culture swab is sent out to a lab for testing.
  2. Sometimes doctors send out throat cultures to confirm or verify a diagnosis.
  3. Rapid testing: A healthcare professional performs a throat culture swab and tests it in-house while you wait. Typically takes about 20 minutes for results to come back.

What If You Test Positive for Strep Throat?

If your strep test comes back positive, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics.

Make sure you take your full dose until you finish the antibiotic. Change your toothbrush and clean all eating and drinking utensils.

We need to re-address any symptoms that return or do not go away with treatment.

What If It’s Just a Sore Throat?

If you have a sore throat, this can come from various causes. Identifying the cause will depend on the type of treatment.

Most of the time, over-the-counter medicines work well for easing symptoms. They also help treat the main cause, like allergy medications.