Strep Throat Vs. Sore Throat

Are you suffering from cough? Do you have difficulty in swallowing food and water? Does your throat pain? Do you have a slight fever and runny nose? Well, you may conclude that you suffer from sore throat or throat infection. However, do you know that the symptoms of strep throat are more or less the similar? Well, of course you know that. You may ask, isn't sore throat and strep throat the same? Well, they definitely are NOT same, but, two different conditions. Here we will find out all the similarities and differences between the two conditions.

Difference Between Strep Throat and Sore Throat

Sore throat can be found in people of any age group, however, strep throat is common mostly in adults. As mentioned above, apart from a few different symptoms, most of the symptoms observed, when suffering from either of the cases, are similar.

	Sore Throat	Strep Throat
Causes	Sore throat, also known as throat infection, throat pain or pharyngitis, is a condition caused due to several causes like viral infection, bacterial infection, sinus drainage, etc.	Strep throat is a condition caused only due to bacterial infection. In fact, strep throat is nothing but sore throat caused due to infection by the streptococcal (strep) bacteria.
Symptoms	Cough, runny nose, low-grade fever, sneezing, difficulty in swallowing, etc. are the common symptoms of sore throat.	The classic symptom of strep throat is swollen lymph nodes or tonsils. White spots appear on the tonsils which may sometimes ooze pus. Apart from these, all the symptoms found in case of sore throat like cough, fever, etc. are also observed when suffering from strep throat.
Treatment	Sore throat can be treated with the help of home remedies like gargling with salt water; use of humidifier, nasal sprays, and lozenges. The doctor may even prescribe analgesics to relieve pain. Taking rest is also essential to get rid of viral infection.	As strep throat is caused due to bacteria, antibiotics are used to treat it. Although strep throat goes away within 4-7 days, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent the condition from being contagious and get quick relief.

This table will help you quickly note the major differences between the two. Now, on the other hand, if you wish to know what are the similarities between the two, then note that the symptoms are very much similar and it is difficult to spot the difference. Secondly, one should also remember that both, sore throat and strep throat are contagious until the treatment starts. Therefore, it is wise to consult the doctor in order to diagnose whether you suffer from sore throat or strep throat; and start treatment immediately and accordingly. Strep throat, if left untreated, can lead to rheumatic fever. If looking for preventive measure for the same, it is recommended that healthy people should avoid being too close to people suffering from either of these cases. One should not share personal articles or clothes with these people, as long as the symptoms persist.

We can conclude by saying that throat infection can only be called strep throat if it is caused due to bacteria; rest in all cases, it is a sore throat. Lastly, note that maintaining proper cleanliness and hygiene helps in prevention of most of the infectious diseases. Take care!