Most sore throats are simply the start of a common cold. They are almost always caused by a viral infection, and are soon accompanied by coughing, sneezing, a runny or blocked nose and red or watery eyes. While they can be quite painful and annoying, they are not serious.
A strep throat, on the other hand, is caused not by a virus, but by the streptococcus bacteria – and can be dangerous if left untreated, especially in children aged five to 15, says Durban medical microbiologist Dr Abdool Kader Peer.
With strep throat, the onset of pain is sudden and severe, making it hard to swallow. It’s typically accompanied by a fever over 38.4oC that lasts at least 24 hours, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, and yellow or white spots or coating on your throat and your tonsils (lymphatic filters designed to catch germs entering your airways). You can also develop a bright red throat or dark red spots at the back of your throat and roof of your mouth.
Strep infections left untreated in children may lead to complications such as scarlet fever (causing rashes over the neck, chest and elsewhere) and rheumatic fever (joint tenderness and pain). These can occasionally leave them with long-term damage to their skin, joints, kidneys and heart, says Dr Peer.
How to treat it
If you have signs of a strep throat, see a medical professional straight away. With the right antibiotics it can be cured quickly. Stay home to rest and to protect others – strep infections can be spread rapidly through direct contact, mucus droplets in the air, kissing and sharing cups and cutlery. Once you start antibiotics, the likelihood of infecting others drops after around 24 hours, but it’s still important to wash your hands often and not share utensils. Toss out your toothbrush once the infection is over, advises Dr Peer.
If you have common sore throat of viral origin, there is no specific treatment – it will not respond to antibiotics. Other causes include dry air, cigarette smoke or other irritants and allergies. It will usually resolve itself in five to seven days, and your best response is to rest and drink lots of liquids (avoid citrus juices, with can hurt; try sipping through a straw).
To ease the pain of a common sore throat, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) – ask your Clicks pharmacist. (Never give aspirin to children as it’s been linked to Reye’s syndrome, which can cause brain damage.) Throat sprays and lozenges can help soothe the throat and numb it. Gargling with warm salt water, drinking warm liquids or sucking popsicles may also bring relief. Try using a vaporiser or humidifier (or sitting over a bowl of steaming water under a towel), to counter throat dryness and scratchiness.With a common sore throat, you only need see a doctor if it develops into tonsillitis
This can be triggered by either a viral or a bacterial infection – you doctor will diagnose this according to symptoms or by taking a throat swab for laboratory analysis, says Dr Peer. If the cause is bacterial, you will be prescribed antibiotics.
If any sore throat persists for longer than a week or two, or keeps recurring, see your doctor – it may have another cause, such as acid reflux, mononucleosis (an STI) or throat tumours.
Find out more
For advice or more information, speak to a Clicks pharmacist on the prevention and treatment of strep throat. You can find the contact details to your nearest Clicks Pharmacy online or call the customer care team on 0860 245 257.
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