Strep Throat
Medical Revising Author:
Dennis S. Phillips, MD
Medical Revising Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
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Sore Throat: Virus or Strep?
Medical Author: Melissa Stoppler, M.D.
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel,
Jr, MD, FACP, FACR
 Are you wondering if your sore throat requires
antibiotics? Strep throat, named for
the Streptococcus bacterium that causes the condition,
is a particularly severe form of sore throat that is best treated with
antibiotics. Strep throat can strike both children and adults, but only about
five to ten percent of sore throats are caused by a bacterial infection. Most
sore throats are caused by viral illnesses and are not responsive to treatment with antibiotics.
A true streptococcal infection of the throat often leads
to excruciating throat pain accompanied by difficulty swallowing and even speaking. Fever may be
present, and the tonsils are often covered with a whitish layer of pus. 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. Children may have an accompanying rash; a streptococcus
infection along with a rash is commonly termed scarlet fever.
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What is strep throat?
While many people use the terms sore throat, tonsillitis, and strep throat
interchangeably, there are significant differences between these conditions.
Understanding the differences can give parents a better idea of how and when to
be concerned and seek advice from the child's doctor.
While strep throat is most common in children and adolescents, it affects
people of all ages. This article focuses on causes, symptoms, diagnosis and
treatment of strep throat in children and adolescents.
Tonsils and tonsillitis
The tonsils are red, oval clumps of tissue located at
the back and to the sides of the throat. This location allows the tonsils to
intercept germs as they enter the child's body through the nose and throat. They
contain infection-fighting cells and antibodies that stop the spread of the
germs further into the body. When the tonsils become red, sore, and swollen,
this inflammation is called tonsillitis. This is not a specific term, as there are
many causes of tonsil inflammation.
Sore throat caused by viruses
In infants and children, the most frequent cause of
tonsillitis is an infecting germ called a virus. For a viral infection, no antibiotic is needed
(unless the infection becomes complicated by a subsequent bacterial infection),
and the infection can be expected to run a four-to-six day course. During this
period, the child can be treated with lots of fluids, rest, and "feel better"
medicines that reduce pain and/or fever, such as
acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, Liquiprin, etc.) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, etc.).
Sore throat caused by bacteria
Bacterial causes of sore throat or tonsillitis can
require further attention
from parents and pediatricians. Streptococcus, or strep, is the most frequently
found bacterial cause of sore throat. This germ requires an antibiotic for rapid
treatment. Antibiotics do not lower the body's immune system or make
it "lazy." On the contrary, antibiotics enable the normal, healthy immune system to kill
bacteria (like strep) more rapidly and effectively.
Next: What are the symptoms of strep throat? »
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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
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- Sore Throat (Pharyngitis) - Learn more about sore throats, including causes, at-home treatments, differences from strep throat, reasons to seek medical care, and what it means to have multiple episodes of strep throat. Source:MedicineNet
- Tonsillitis - Learn about tonsillitis causes and types such as acute tonsillitis, strep throat, mononucleosis (mono), chronic tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, and hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids. Treatment depends on the type of tonsillitis or adenoid infection. Source:MedicineNet
- Erythema Nodosum - Read about erythema nodosum, a skin inflammation that results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the knees. Erythema nodosum can resolve on its own in 3 to 6 weeks, leaving a bruised area. Treatments include anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone by mouth or injection. Source:MedicineNet
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