A strep throat is a general term that describes a disease that affects the area and surrounding area of the throat. Commonly known as a sore throat, throat infections are most commonly caused by bacteria or viruses. A throat infection has been estimated to be one of the top ten reasons people visit emergency rooms for treatment.
When a virus or bacteria infects the throat, it causes a painful swelling of the tissue in the throat area. This causes symptoms such as itchy throat, redness and swelling of the throat, pain, hoarseness in the voice, cough, and pain when swallowing. Other symptoms of a throat infection can include nasal congestion, runny nose and red eyes, headache, and fever.
Most sore throats are caused by viral infections, and most of them usually run their course within three to six days. Viral infections are not treatable with antibiotics. However, a doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics if the viral infection is also accompanied by a bacterial infection. Treatment for a sore throat caused by a virus usually consists of drinking plenty of fluids, getting plenty of rest, and taking medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen that help relieve symptoms of the infection.
Mononucleosis, also known as mono, is an example of a throat infection caused by a virus. Mononucleosis symptoms include those listed above, along with fatigue, weakness, and loss of appetite. Unlike the more common sore throats, the symptoms of mononucleosis can persist for an extended period of time.
A patient with a bacterial throat infection may be given antibiotics prescribed by their doctor. Bacteria are living microorganisms that can be killed by the use of antibiotics. Viruses cannot be killed with antibiotics because they are not living organisms, but rather a capsule of genetic material. While bacteria can reproduce and multiply on their own, viruses cannot. Viruses infect and take over a host cell, reprogramming the cell to reproduce the virus.
Antibiotics can help speed recovery and reduce the length of time an infected person is contagious to others. In addition to prescription medications, many doctors will also recommend that a patient with a bacterial throat infection get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, gargle with warm salt water, and use a humidifier.
Strep throat is an example of a bacterial infection of the throat. It is known as strep throat because the bacteria that causes it is called streptococcus. While strep throat isn't usually harmful, if left untreated it can lead to other conditions, including rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, and tonsillitis. When a doctor suspects that a patient may have strep throat, a rapid strep test or throat culture will be done to check for the presence of strep. The rapid strep test is not as accurate as a throat culture, but results can be received in 15 minutes. In contrast, it can take up to two days to receive the results of a throat culture.
A patient with a sore throat accompanied by a high fever and difficulty breathing or swallowing should contact a doctor immediately. If the sore throat is accompanied by a low-grade fever, a doctor should be contacted if symptoms do not improve within a day or two. It may also be a good idea to see a doctor if a throat infection is not accompanied by other sinus symptoms, if it hurts to swallow liquids, or if a sore throat lasts more than a week.