A sore throat is a common illness that many of us have experienced. However, not all sore throats are the same. Some may be caused by a simple viral infection, while others could be the result of a more serious infection known as strep throat. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the differences between strep throat and a regular sore throat, helping you understand when it’s time to seek medical attention. 

Causes

How is a sore throat caused?

A sore throat is caused by a virus that affects the throat and surrounding areas. Colds and the flu are often the common culprit to causing irritation of the throat it can also be caused by environmental factors too or even the overuse or strain of the vocal cords.

How is strep throat caused?

Strep throat is caused by bacteria, more specifically by the group A Streptococcus bacteria. It is highly contagious and causes an infection in the throat and tonsils, later developing into strep throat symptoms.

Symptoms of a sore throat

If you have a sore throat, here are some symptoms you may endure:

• Scratchy throat
• Irritation
• Pain in the throat
• Coughing
• Runny nose
• Sneezing

Symptoms of strep throat

In addition to the symptoms of a regular sore throat, strep throat symptoms can vary from the following:

• Severe & sudden throat pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• A fever
• Headaches
• Absence of cold & flu symptoms like a runny nose
• White spots on the tonsils

Care

How to care for a sore throat

Here are some of the home remedies, self care methods and types of medicines that can aid in relieving symptoms of sore throat:

Salt water

Gargling with warm salt water can help in reducing any swelling within the throat alongside minimising feelings of discomfort. You should dissolve around half a tea spoon of salt in a glass, gargle, then spit the water out. This method can be repeated as many times as you’d like and you should not swallow the salt water.

Warm liquids

A range of warm liquids including soups, broths and tea are ideal for not only a sore throat but when you’re suffering from a flu or cold. The warmth and heat relieves any pain and the nutrients such as vitamins or minerals can speed up recovery periods.

Throat sprays

Throat sprays have immediate effects and contain an anaesthetic like benzocaine. They work by numbing any pain you may feel from a sore throat or symptoms like scratchiness and irritation.

Lozenges

A lozenge can reduce symptoms of a sore throats such as irritation or cough. It creates a cooling sensation and increases saliva in the mouth to lubricate and soothe your throat.

How to care for strep throat

Taking care of yourself or others with strep throat involves the following:

Antibiotics

If you are suffering from strep, a doctor or healthcare professional will prescribe you with antibiotics as it is a bacterial infection, not viral like a sore throat. This will reduce the risk of the infection spreading to others and symptoms from worsening.

Pain relief

A common symptom is pain in the throat when people suffer from strep throat. Pain relievers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can be taken to reduce this.

Rest

When you become ill with an infection, it’s important that you give your body time to rest to help fight the infection and also relieve symptoms such as fatigue.

Humidifier

The dry air in winter can exacerbate strep throat symptoms like an itchy or scratchy throat. A humidifier can relieve these by releasing moisture into the air to rehydrate your throat and also benefitting other aspects of your body like your skin.

Book a GP Appointment Today.

If you’re unsure whether your sore throat is just a common irritation or potentially strep throat, you can book a GP appointment at the Medical Hub today for a proper diagnosis or appropriate medical guidance.