The common cold, or the flu, has a lot in common with strep throat. Both can be caused by viruses and are treated with antibiotics. Strep throat symptoms typically last for a week or two while cold symptoms do not.

But there’s another difference between these two ailments that can cause confusion among people who have them. The cold may have you feeling run-down but you still feel pretty good overall. In contrast, when you have strep throat your throat can go from bad to worse very quickly.

Strep throat is caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes. It’s spread through droplets of saliva and mucus produced when someone sneezes or coughs. Symptoms include a sore throat, hoarseness, pain and difficulty swallowing. Most often, it causes only minor discomfort, but if left untreated it could lead to more serious complications including heart infection and even death.

While strep throat can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are so similar to those of other illnesses, it’s usually fairly easy to distinguish between the two once you know what to look out for.

Here are some of the differences between strep throat and the common cold. And yes, both can be treated with antibiotics.

Strep Throat vs. the Common Cold

So how does one become infected with strep throat? One way is to get it directly from another person. You can also catch it from droplets in the air as they pass through the nose or mouth. If you’re around someone who’s sick with strep throat you might end up catching it yourself, too.

If someone has the virus that causes the common cold then the odds are that they will pass it along to you. However, if someone gets strep throat they don’t necessarily pass it on to others. When someone has the virus that causes the common cold their body produces antibodies that fight off future infections from the same strain. But when you have strep throat you don’t make these antibodies.

So if you’ve had strep throat before, you’ll most likely be able to handle another bout without getting too sick. If you haven’t had strep throat before, however, you’re at greater risk for being reinfected.

People who already have a suppressed immune system due to certain diseases like HIV, cancer treatment or chronic conditions like diabetes are at higher risk than average for getting strep throat because their immune systems are weaker. This makes them more susceptible to getting sick with any illness, including this one. They should talk to their doctor about taking precautions such as wearing masks and washing their hands frequently.

As mentioned earlier, the common cold lasts for a week or two and doesn’t seem to affect you quite as much as strep throat. That said, there are certain things you need to watch for, especially if you’re older, pregnant or have a suppressed immune system. Here are some signs of strep throat:

  A fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius)

  Pain and swelling in the neck

  Difficulty swallowing and painful swallowing muscles

  Coughing up blood

  Red streaks on the tonsils that look like red stripes

You can also get strep throat when you’re having sex. It’s actually possible for the bacteria to enter your bloodstream during vaginal intercourse without you knowing it. The best thing to do is to avoid getting into positions where you’re not using a condom or other barrier method. Other ways to lower your chances of contracting it include using condoms every time you have sexual contact.

In addition to the signs listed here, there are also indicators of strep throat that aren’t visible to the naked eye. For example, if you have strep throat but no symptoms, it’s probably okay to go ahead and take part in activities like eating and drinking. But if you start coughing up blood, you should see a doctor immediately.

The signs and symptoms of strep throat can vary depending on whether it’s a mild or severe case. Mild cases of strep throat are treatable at home with over-the-counter medications. Severe cases, however, require a trip to the emergency room or urgent care center where doctors can give you intravenous antibiotic treatments. There’s also a chance that your healthcare provider will prescribe an antibiotic to prevent further outbreaks. In many cases, the duration of the course of treatment depends on how severely your immune system is affected.

Most of the time, a sore throat clears up after just a few days. But strep throat tends to cause more problems for people whose immune systems are already compromised. Some people experience long-term consequences of the infection, including tooth loss and other mouth health issues. So if you think you might have been exposed to strep throat recently and want to get checked out, do so right away.

It’s important to note that strep throat is not contagious via food or drink. Also, since you may have gotten it from someone else, there’s no reason to believe that anyone in your household has it unless they were diagnosed with the disease themselves.

If you have read all the points which are given above then you will be able to know some important things about strep throat. This article is very helpful for those who want to know more about it or if anyone does not have a little bit of knowledge regarding it. people can also gather knowledge regarding it from the internet.