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Sore throat, or pharyngitis, describes inflammation of the pharynx in the back of the mouth at the opening of the throat. Viral infections that can cause a sore throat include the common cold, mononucleosis or the flu. Strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection, streptococcus, that can clear on its own or be treated with antibiotics.
The following sore throat symptoms may indicate a viral infection rather than a bacterial strep infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can have a sore throat associated with them, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Causes of an inflamed and sore throat that are not viral or bacterial can include dry indoor air, allergies, smoking, pollution, chronic rhinitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or acid reflux).
Severe dehydration and even mild dehydration can contribute to soreness and scratchiness in the throat, especially after sleeping.
Some ways you can feel better when you have a sore throat:
If you have a severe sore throat or have other concerning symptoms, consult a health care provider.
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Strep throat is a bacterial infection, primarily caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, of the throat and tonsils. If you are experiencing throat pain, trouble swallowing, have a fever, red blisters on your throat and your lymph nodes are swollen, chances are you have strep throat. Common symptoms include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever and swollen lymph nodes. It can be diagnosed through a throat swab and typically is treated with antibiotics to prevent complications and reduce the duration of symptoms.
Although anyone can get strep throat, it is more common in children ages 5 to 15 and usually occurs in late winter and early spring.
Strep throat is highly contagious and generally is spread through respiratory droplets from infected individuals. Direct contact with infected surfaces or people, such as through coughing, sneezing or sharing contaminated objects, can cause and spread the illness.
If you experience any of these common strep throat symptoms, schedule an appointment for a strep test so antibiotics can be prescribed to eliminate the infection and reduce the risk of spreading it to others.
If you are pregnant and suspect strep throat, it’s important to seek prompt medical attention. Follow your health care provider’s prescribed treatment plan to prevent potential complications.
A strep throat diagnosis easily can be confirmed by a primary care provider, by swabbing the throat and running a rapid test on the sample. A throat culture, which tests whether any of the strep bacteria grow in a lab, can confirm cases that a rapid test might miss.
The same group A strep bacteria that causes strep throat can cause scarlet fever. Long-term complications of scarlet fever can be severe and include rheumatic fever and pneumonia, but are rare, especially when the condition is treated promptly with antibiotics.
Seek immediate medical care if you experience:
It is important to treat strep throat with antibiotics right away to avoid spreading the infection to other areas of the body and risking damage to your immune system. Infection can spread to:
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