Strep throat is one of the most common causes of a sore throat with white spots. It is caused by a bacterial infection and can cause white pus nodules as well as a white or yellow film in the mouth and on the tongue. Sometimes bacteria can also collect on or in the crevices of the tonsils and cause small white spots as well. This may or may not be accompanied by a sore throat.
Sore throat with white patches are two of the characteristic symptoms of strep throat. The bacteria strep is responsible for these symptoms, and can also cause a high fever, bright red color in the throat and mouth, and swollen tonsils or lymph nodes. If your sore throat is accompanied by a cough, sneezing, or runny nose, it's probably not strep, but a viral infection.
The sore throat with white patches associated with strep throat is associated with inflammation due to bacteria and pockets of pus that can form anywhere in the mouth or throat. There are several strains of strep bacteria, and some are more vicious than others. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics to help the infection heal faster, but this is not always effective. Medicated throat sprays and over-the-counter pain relievers are commonly used for pain relief.
The white spots and pain disappear when the infection is removed. There are usually no long-term effects of strep throat. Young children get the disease more often than adults, mainly because they are in school near other children and may share utensils, forget to wash their hands, or put objects in their mouths if they are very young. High fever may occur and should be reduced with a fever reducer. If it does not break within several hours of using acetaminophen or other fever-reducing medicine, the child should be seen by a doctor.
Another cause of a sore throat with white spots is bacterial buildup on the tonsils. Sometimes this occurs when food particles get caught in the cracks after eating and create a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. This can cause inflammation and pain. Other times, a viral or bacterial infection irritates the tonsils and forms pockets of pus, causing swelling and pain. Antibiotics like penicillin are often prescribed for tonsillitis and other tonsil infections. Occasionally, if the infections are chronic, the tonsils are removed.