Have you ever woken up with an irritating, itchy and painful feeling in your throat that makes you wonder if it’s cold or something more serious?
Initially, a sore throat might not be a big annoyance, but as time passes, it can worsen into a painful struggle.
The constant pain of swallowing, fever or even body pain can make your day more terrible than it already is. But, you are not alone in this. Most people find difficulty in understanding whether it's tonsillitis or strep throat.
In this blog, let’s explore the difference between tonsillitis and strep throat, the causes, symptoms and their treatment options.
Tonsillitis – What Is It Exactly?
What exactly is this tonsillitis? Tonsillitis is a swelling on the tonsils – a gland at the back of your throat. This is your body’s first defence line against infections or bacteria. This condition is mainly caused by viral infections like cold and flu or even bacterial infections.
Are you struggling to swallow or speak due to sore throat? Then it’s time you go consult your doctor.
What Causes Tonsilitis?
You might wonder: What causes tonsillitis? Tonsillitis is an infection, which may be viral or bacterial in nature — often the same germs that cause the common cold or flu.
Think of it as a regular flu symptom but with an additional sore throat to accompany you. It can be quite frustrating when you are unable to do the simplest daily activity – eating your favourite food or even drinking water.
Other than viruses, bacterial infections like Group A Streptococcus (the same culprit behind strep throat) are sometimes the culprit.
The other causes of tonsillitis are spread through contact with the infected person like hugging, sharing food, etc…
Symptoms Of Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis symptoms differ from mild to severe which include:
The good news is that viral tonsillitis usually resolves on its own within a week, but bacterial tonsillitis needs to be treated to avoid complications.
Why risk your health when the diagnosis takes just a few minutes?
Strep Throat – What Is It?
You might think: What is this strep throat? Strep throat is a similar type of throat infection which is caused only by bacterial infections. The main culprit is Group A Streptococcus bacteria. This condition is mostly seen among children but it can also occur among adults.
Not sure if your sore throat is due to strep throat? Look out for these:
What Causes Strep Throat?
Strep throat is a communicable disease that passes on through the air when someone sneezes or coughs. The main cause of strep throat is direct contact with people infected with Group A Streptococcus.
They are not caused by viruses, meaning they need to be treated by a medical professional to avoid any serious complications later on.
Symptoms of Strep Throat
Strep throat symptoms can be similar to tonsillitis but usually more severe. Some of the strep throat symptoms to watch out for include:
Are you tired of getting continuous sore throats that just don’t seem to go away? These could be signs of strep throat—especially if your symptoms appear suddenly.
How To Tell The Difference: Tonsillitis vs Strep Throat?
Are you confused about whether you or your loved ones are having tonsillitis or strep throat? Let’s break them down:
Tonsillitis generally comes with a sore throat, cough, runny nose, and sometimes fever. The tonsils appear red and swollen, usually white or yellow patches.
Strep throat typically comes with more serious symptoms like a sore throat with extremely high fever, red or white patches on the tonsils, and swollen neck lymph nodes. There are no cold-like symptoms like runny nose.
Have you booked an appointment with your doctor? It is time you make health your top priority.
What Are The Treatment Options Available?
Wondering about what treatment options are available for both tonsillitis and strep throat? Here’s how you can treat them –
Don’t you want to get back to your normal self as soon as possible?
Home Remedies For Tonsillitis and Strep Throat
Want to try out some home remedies to get relief before you visit the doctor? Here are some tonsillitis and strep throat home remedies —
These remedies can provide you relief in emergencies. But make sure to visit the doctor soon to treat yourself.
Final Thoughts
Ignore the symptoms of tonsillitis or strep throat and you will only suffer for no reason. From constant pain of swallowing to complete body exhaustion – there can be complications later in life.
Seek medical help today if you have seriously sore throat pain. Instant relief is only possible when you act quickly.
It’s time to act! Contact Vikram ENT and get the care you need to start feeling like yourself again.
Call Now