What you need to know
- Strep throat can lead to more serious complications, which is why prompt diagnosis is essential.
- There are key differences in the onset, symptoms and progression of cold and strep throat, making identification relatively easy.
- The main difference to note is that strep throat presents suddenly, while the onset of a cold is much more gradual.
Key differences include onset time, severity of symptoms and progression.
When cold and flu season comes around, everyone is on high alert looking out for symptoms.
There are practical reasons to want to know exactly what you are afflicted with – once you know the cause, you can administer the correct treatment.
It also helps to avoid further complications.
Two conditions that are regularly mistaken for one another are strep throat and the common cold.
While the former needs to be treated with a round of antibiotics, the latter will typically be left to clear up on its own.
In this guide, we’re exploring the key differences between the two conditions so you can take prompt action if you suspect you have one or the other.
Strep throat symptoms
Symptoms of strep throat include:
- A sudden and severe sore throat
- Pain when swallowing
- A hoarse voice
- High fever, typically over 101℉
- White spots on the tonsils
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Headache and body aches
- Stomach pain is also common in children
Cold symptoms
Symptoms of the common cold include:
- Gradual onset of symptoms
- Sore throat which usually clears in a few days
- Runny or blocked nose
- Cough
- Sneezing
- A low grade fever, if present at all
How to tell the difference between strep throat and a cold
As soon as a sore throat shows up, many people will jump to conclusions about the condition.
It’s important to remember that strep throat is characterised as a severe sore throat that comes on suddenly.
This is often accompanied by other symptoms, like swollen lymph nodes in the neck and white patches on the tonsils.
The onset of symptoms is often a key giveaway when determining the difference between strep throat and a cold.
Compare this to the sore throat experienced with a common cold, which is typically mild and passes within a few days.
There might be mild discomfort, but nothing like the discomfort from strep throat.
With strep throat, the symptoms are sudden and might also be accompanied by a high grade fever.
In contrast, with the common cold the symptoms are often slow to develop.
With a cold, you are more likely to experience a runny nose, sneezing, or a blocked nose, but these symptoms are absent with strep throat.
Treatment for strep throat and a cold
Why is it important to be able to tell the difference between strep throat and a cold?
Simply because the treatments are so different.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection, which means that you’ll need a course of antibiotics to treat it.
Failing to treat strep throat can lead to further complications, which is why it is so important to identify this condition quickly.
A doctor can perform a rapid strep test or a throat culture to help to diagnose strep throat.
Left untreated, strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation) and scarlet fever.
There is no treatment for the common cold, as it is a viral infection, but there are home remedies that can alleviate the symptoms.
A cold should clear up on its own in one to two weeks.
Other conditions that can cause a sore throat
Strep throat and the common cold are not the only causes of a sore throat.
A sore throat could also be caused by conditions like laryngitis or tonsillitis.
It could also be the result of other viral infections like flu or mononucleosis (mono).
Sore throats can also be the result of environmental irritants, such as cigarette smoke or air pollution.
Dry air from heating and air conditioning can also lead to a sore throat.
And finally, allergies are also known to lead to a sore throat.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the biggest difference between strep throat and a cold?
The key distinction is how quickly symptoms appear.
When should I see a doctor for a sore throat?
You should see a doctor if your sore throat comes on abruptly, is very painful, or is accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes, or white spots on your tonsils.
How are strep throat and colds treated differently?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection, so it requires antibiotics to prevent complications like rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation.
