Your Sore Throat: Know the Difference Between a Cold, Strep Throat, and Tonsillitis

A cold often starts with a slight sore throat. But sometimes this sore throat doesn't go away in a day or two, but gets worse. It hurts so much that you can't even swallow a little food or a sip of water. So is this just a cold, or is there something else we should be concerned about? Let's talk about this today and understand the exact difference between these three conditions.

What's the difference? Cold, Strep Throat and Tonsillitis

Although all three cause a sore throat , these are three different conditions.

• Common Cold : This is something we all know. It is caused by a virus. It starts with a sore throat, which subsides in a day or two, and then things like a runny nose and stuffy nose begin.
• Strep Throat: This is a little different. It is caused by a bacterial infection . Specifically, a bacteria called `( Streptococcus )`. The sore throat caused by this is much worse than a common cold, and can last for days.
• Tonsillitis: This is when the tonsils on either side of our throat become swollen or infected . Strictly speaking, these tonsils are like guards that fight germs that enter our body. But sometimes these guards themselves get infected. That is what we call `(Tonsillitis)`. This can be caused by viruses as well as bacteria.

Let's recognize the difference by symptoms.

Although the common feature of all three of these conditions is a sore throat, we can easily understand the difference between them by looking at the other symptoms.

How exactly does the doctor find this?

When you go to see a doctor, he will first ask you about your symptoms. Then he will use a flashlight to examine your throat, tongue, and tonsils.

If you suspect you have strep throat, a simple test called a Rapid Strep Test can be done to confirm it.

This involves taking a small sample of mucus from the back of the throat and tonsils with a long cotton swab. This is not painful. The sample can be tested immediately and the results can be obtained within minutes.

• If the test is positive: It means you have Strep Throat.
• If the test is negative: But if your symptoms still suggest strep throat, your doctor may take another sample and send it to a lab. This is called a ``Throat Culture.'' The results will take about two days to come back.

How is it treated?

Treatment methods depend on your condition.

For sore throat caused by colds

Since a cold is a viral infection, antibiotics are ineffective. The best thing to do is rest and home remedies.

• Drink warm liquids (tea, soup).
• Gargle with salt water.
• Rest well.
• You can take a painkiller like paracetamol to reduce pain and fever, as advised by your doctor. (Avoid giving aspirin to children. It can cause a dangerous condition called Reye's syndrome.)
• You can suck on lozenges to soothe your throat.(But avoid giving to small children due to choking hazard).

For Strep Throat and Tonsillitis caused by bacteria

Because these are bacterial infections, antibiotics are essential to treat them. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic such as `(Penicillin)` or `(Amoxicillin)`.

For tonsillitis caused by viruses

This is just like a cold. Antibiotics don't work. All you need to do is rest and drink warm fluids until the virus is gone.

If some people continue to develop tonsillitis, or if the tonsils become enlarged and interfere with breathing or sleeping, the doctor may recommend surgical removal of them (`Tonsillectomy`).

When is it best to see a doctor?

A sore throat usually clears up in a few days, but if you have any of the following symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor.

• Sore throat lasting more than 4-5 days.
• The pain is so severe that it is impossible to swallow food or drink.
• Difficulty breathing or making a strange sound when speaking.
• Difficulty opening the mouth.
• High fever (over 101°F / 38.3°C).
• Skin rash.
• Neck stiffness or severe headache.
• Earache.
• Dark urine.

How to prevent sore throat?

The best thing is to protect yourself from germs.

• Wash your hands often with soap.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
• Always avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands.
• Stay away from people who have illnesses like colds.
• Stay away from smoking and smoky environments.
• Get plenty of rest, eat nutritious foods, and drink enough water.