what is the difference between viral and bacterial strep throat?
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Sore throat symptoms are typically caused by inflammation due to a virus like the common cold. However, about 15 percent of sore throats are caused by bacteria called streptococcus, or strep. Strep throat requires treatment with an antibiotic, while viral causes of sore throat do not.
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Knowing the difference can save you time and money during cold and flu season. The symptoms of a bacterial infection and a virus are often very similar—fever, muscle aches, cough, and sore throat—but they require different treatments.
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Strep throat, or streptococcal pharyngitis, is an upper respiratory infection caused by the Group A streptococcus bacteria. It's highly contagious and spreads through close contact with others. Symptoms include red, swollen tonsils, white patches in the back of your throat, fever, nausea, headache, and skin rash.
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Answer From James M. Steckelberg, M.D. As you might think, bacterial infections are caused by bacteria, and viral infections are caused by viruses. Perhaps the most important distinction between bacteria and viruses is that antibiotic drugs usually kill bacteria, but they aren't effective against viruses.
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A: Strep throat and a viral sore throat share many common symptoms. With both, you may have difficulty swallowing, your throat may be red and irritated, and you might have a fever. But with strep, you could also have sore glands in your neck, white pus on your tonsils, a headache and even an upset stomach.
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Specifically, infectious mononucleosis ("mono") and infection with Streptococcus bacteria ("strep throat") are two conditions that both produce an extremely painful sore throat. Like the common cold, infectious mononucleosis is caused by a viral infection.
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Bacteria Cause Strep Throat Viruses are the most common cause of a sore throat. However, strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep).
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Strep is most commonly found in the mouth and throat. Hence the relatively common condition strep throat. The infection is often accompanied by an extremely sore throat with white patches, difficulty swallowing, and a fever. Meanwhile, staph is a skin infection that is most often the result of surgery or an open wound.
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If you have strep throat—which is caused by bacteria—your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, such as penicillin. But strep throat goes away on its own in 3 to 7 days with or without antibiotics. Antibiotics may not make you well faster.
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A sore throat from a strep infection usually comes on suddenly (within hours or overnight). Symptoms include high fever, body aches, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and an extremely painful sore throat (often described as razor blades when you swallow).
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If you have tonsillitis that's caused by a viral infection, such as the common cold or flu, your symptoms may be milder. If your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, such as a streptococcal infection, your symptoms will usually be more severe and you may also have bad breath.
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The difference between viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia. Treatment is the biggest difference between bacterial and viral pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotic therapy, while viral pneumonia will usually get better on its own.
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Cough and runny nose are not commonly related to strep throat, but it is possible to have a streptococcal infection along with a viral upper respiratory infection and symptoms of a cold. The bacterial infection may result in enlarged, tender lymph nodes in the neck.
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Strep throat infection Signs and symptoms of strep throat can include: Throat pain that usually comes on quickly. Painful swallowing. Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus.
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Signs and symptoms of strep throat are very similar to an ordinary sore throat, but in general strep throat has: White patches on the tonsils or back of the throat. Just a sore throat without cough/cold symptoms like a runny nose or congestion. Swollen lymph nodes (right below the earlobes)
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The symptoms of a bacterial infection and a virus are often very similar—fever, muscle aches, cough, and sore throat—but they require different treatments.
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Viruses that cause the common cold and the flu also cause most sore throats. Less often, bacterial infections cause sore throats.