Strep Throat
Medical Author: Siamak Nabili, MD, MPH
Medical Editors: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR and 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 clinical differences between these
conditions. Understanding the differences can give patients a better idea of how
and when to be concerned and when to seek advice from a physician.
Strep throat is only one of many possible causes of throat infection and sore
throat. While strep throat is most common in children and adolescents, it can
affect people of all ages.
What causes sore throat?
Sore throat may have many causes. The most common causes of sore throat are
infections of the throat and the surrounding structures. Any inflammation or
infection of the pharynx, tonsils, esophagus (the food pipe), or larynx (the top
opening part of the windpipe) may cause sore throat.
What are the 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 body through the nose and throat. They contain infection-fighting
cells and antibodies (infection-fighting proteins in the body) 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
inflammation of the tonsils. Tonsillitis is a common cause of sore throat.
What are the pharynx and pharyngitis?
The pharynx is the area in the back of the throat shared by the oral cavity
and the nasal cavity behind the palate. An infection or inflammation of the
pharynx is called pharyngitis. The infectious causes are similar to those
causing tonsillitis, which are mainly related to viruses and less commonly to
bacterial infection.
Because it is difficult to always distinguish exactly between pharyngitis and
tonsillitis, throat infections are commonly referred to as tonsillopharyngitis,
which signifies an infection of the tonsils, or pharynx, or both.
Next: Can viruses cause throat infection? »
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