whats the difference between a strep throat and a sore throat?

Question

i'm not sure what i have~ but i've been drinking about 10 bottles of water these last couple of days and it's not going away!! what to dO?

Answer 1

A strep throat is caused by the bacteria streptococcus ( which normally causes tonsillitis) - and it certainly makes your throat sore.
Most sore throats are caused by viral infections.
If you have a strep throat usually you can see spots of white pus on the back of the throat (lovely hey?). You will generally have larger swollen glands (lymph nodes than with a viral infection).
One viral infection which looks and feels most like strep throat is infectious mono (glandular fever/ebstien barr virus) but the pus is more like a thick coating than spots.
Hope you feel better soon. Try some gargling but if you have the white stuff there best get off to see your doctor.

Answer 2

I have had strep throat at least 6 times 4 times in one year and my grandma always told me that my glands were swollen at the same time. So I would say strep throat is more serious than a sore throat. Don't just drink water because that doesn't help. Take some liquid medicine. That should help you a little bit

Answer 3

A sore throat is actually a painful inflammation of the tonsils or surrounding areas that require little treatment other than an ant-inflammatory drug you can buy over the counter.

Strep throat, on the other hand, is a serious illness and should be treated with antibiotics.

Signs and symptoms of a sore throat: Pain in throat, Fever (variable), Cough

Signs and symptoms of strep throat: Pain in throat, Fever, Positive throat culture


they are really similar but strep will cause your tonsils to be covered in white pus pockets. You can have someone check it out for you with a flashlight. It may hurt to turn your neck from side to side and the back of your neck down each side could swell quite badly.

Answer 4

A sore throat just means it's irritated...a good night's rest and some warm liquids should take care of that. A strep throat means there's an infection. They have reallly similar symoptoms so sometimes its hard to tell. Usually you need antibiotics to get rid of a strep throat. Considering its been 10 days, it's quite possible that you have a strep throat. You should ask your local pharmacist for some strep throat medicine! feel better!

Answer 5

A strep throat will give you a sore throat but so will staph Aurius or albicans..Don't understand what you thought drinking all that water was supposed to do but, you are finding out how much help it wasn't . If a frequent gargle of salt water doesn't relieve it, would be advisable to get some professional help. If you are having a green expectoration, get help immediately.

Answer 6

You should know that the streptococcus bacteria that causes strept throat can be dangerous. I spent six weeks in a coma and on life support in 1998 as a result of catching a resistant form. I caught it from a child that rode in my taxi.

When the bacteria grows in the throat, it can produce a gas that when drawn into the lungs causes Rheumatic Fever. That can cause heart damage.

I had it twice as a child, which is likely why when I caught it as an adult, it hit me so bad. Normally, the type I got in 1998 results in the lost of hands and feet, if not death, fairly quickly, but I was lucky to go to a University Hospital when I started running the fever. Even then, I had to relearned to do everything.

The bacteria, itself, is actually a beneficial one to the skin. It helps keep the skin clear of dead cells. But, mutations of it, such as what you may have, as well as the flesh eating type, are rather unpleasant. I also had to flesh eating type. I'm now officially listed as Half Assed as a result of the damage.

See your doctor. Stay away from others until you do, and remember, the major cause of these variations of bacterias are our own fault. We are driving ourselves toward a major disaster if we get a mutation of the wrong form of bacteria. I highly recommend reading the November 1998 issue of Discovery Magazine. The whole issue was on the subject.

Answer 7

strep is a bacterial infection that is really awful. there are lots of other throat infections but few are actually strep. you could try eating fresh raw garlic -- its a natural antibiotic. also try putting some lemon in that water -- lemon is a good antiseptic cleaner for irritiated throats.

Answer 8

I went to the doctor today and was told I had strep throat. My troat is really red and is spread all the way to the roof of my mouth. My doctor put me on antibotics and told me to take in extra fluids.