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What does a sore throat look like?

What does a sore throat look like?

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Every year, tens of millions of Americans visit their primary care doctor in hopes of relieving the unpleasant symptoms of an illness or infection. These symptoms include a stuffy nose or mild fever that accompany a cold. itchy or watery eyes, as occurs with seasonal allergies; or nausea, chills and diarrhea, which are common with the flu.

A sore throat is another common ailment that people suffer from year-round – but more common in the fall and winter months. While a sore throat can be a side effect of many other illnesses, it is the most noticeable symptom of strep throat and contributes to more than 5 million doctor visits per year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What does a sore throat look like?

The first thing to understand is that strep throat is not a virus, as is the case with many other seasonal illnesses, but is a contagious bacterial infection. It causes inflammation and discomfort by affecting the throat and tonsils, “which are the lymph nodes in the back of your mouth,” says Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco.

Although strep throat most commonly occurs in children ages 5 to 12, Nagata says, “it can affect people of all ages.” He explains that someone suffering from strep throat usually has a fever and a sore throat or a “scratchy” discomfort , which worsens when speaking or swallowing.

Aside from the pain and discomfort that comes with strep throat, one of the most frustrating aspects of the infection is that, to many people, it looks very similar to strep throat. This is one reason why a throat culture or rapid test “is necessary for confirmation,” says Dr. Melissa Zheng, an otolaryngologist at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Still, the infection has some distinct symptoms, notes Dr. David Levine, pediatrician and chief of general pediatrics at Atlantic Health System’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital in New Jersey. For one thing, “the throat is often red with swollen tonsils, sometimes with pus on them,” he says. And the pain associated with a sore throat is usually more severe than the pain associated with a typical sore throat.

Nagata explains that the lymph nodes in your neck may also be tender to the touch and you may develop small, red spots on the roof of your mouth. “Some strains of bacteria can also cause a rash,” he adds. “The rash typically begins on the neck and chest, but can spread to other areas of the body.”

The fever associated with a sore throat may also be more pronounced than that of someone dealing with a typical sore throat—”and some people may also experience headaches and stomach aches,” Zheng says.

What causes strep throat?

A sore throat is caused by bacteria Streptococcus pyogenesor Group A streptococci. “These bacteria are contagious and can be transmitted through droplets when coughing or sneezing or by sharing food or drinks,” Nagata says.

It’s also possible to become infected by touching a surface that has bacteria on it – such as a counter, doorknob or toilet handle – and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth.

Can a sore throat go away on its own?

No matter how you become infected, strep throat doesn’t just go away on its own, like viruses do. Since it is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are required. “Unless someone is allergic, penicillin is the drug of choice,” Levine says. Amoxicillin is also commonly used. He explains that within 24 hours of starting antibiotic therapy, the infected person “is no longer contagious and should be afebrile soon after.”

However, even if symptoms subside, “it’s important to take all prescribed antibiotics,” says Zheng.

Until the antibiotics work and clear up the infection, there are things that can ease the pain and discomfort associated with strep throat. These include throat sprays, cough drops, lozenges, humidification and gargling with salt water.