Is my sore throat "strep throat" ?

Saturday, July 13th, 2013, 8:21 pm

Pharyngitis is an infection that causes a sore throat and pain when swallowing. It can be the result of a common cold or strep throat. The infection causes inflammation of the throat and sometimes the tonsils as well.

Depending on the cause of the condition, other symptoms of pharyngitis may include :

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Runny nose
  • Difficulty breathing

When pharyngitis is associated with the common cold there is no treatment other than bed rest and over-the-counter medication, while pharyngitis caused by "strep" bacteria should be treated with antibiotics. While strep is most common in kids, adults can certainly get strep throat as well. Unfortunately there is no one "classic" sign that can determine whether or not your sore throat is secondary to a streptococcal infection or just a common cold. If you are worried that you may have strep throat come see us in New Port Richey ( Trinity ) or Spring Hill. Our physician will perform a complete examination and if necessary do a streptococcal diagnostic test to determine whether you need antibiotics.

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Category: Infections


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