How to Tell the Difference Between Strep Throat and Tonsillitis?

Answer 1

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is normally more severe than a sore throat from a virus such as the flu. Identifying strep is important, since it can lead to complications such as rheumatic fever, which in turn can case joint pain or damage to the heart muscle. While strep is most frequently found in children between five and fifteen years of age, but it can strike at any age. The disease is quite contagious. The bacteria can become airborne from the sneezes or coughs of someone infected, or it can be picked up from a surface and then spread through contact from the hand to the mouth or nose.

Both strep throat and tonsillitis display many of the same symptoms. In both cases, fever is typically present and may exceed 101 degrees. The tonsils are generally red and swollen in both instances and may show streaks of pus or white patches. The throat will be sore and it may be painful or difficult to swallow. The lymph nodes in the neck will be swollen and tender regardless of whether the cause is strep or tonsillitis. The patient may experience a headache, as well as a stomach ache or vomiting.

Differences are so minute that it takes a trained eye to identify them. With tonsillitis, the patient may have noticeably bad breath and his voice may sound scratchy or throaty. A stiff neck is more often the sign of tonsillitis but can also be present with strep throat. Fatigue may be more pronounced with strep than tonsillitis. Patients with strep may also have small red spots on the palate, particularly near the back of the mouth, and may have a rash as well.

Since the only reliable method of differentiating between tonsillitis and strep throat is a laboratory test, the physician will normally take a swab of the tonsils and throat. There are three tests that can then be performed. The traditional method has been to use the culture method, which can take up to two days to return results. He can also use a DNA test, which is as reliable as a culture but can return results in half the time. A rapid antigen test takes only minutes, but can sometimes return false negatives.

It is important to make sure that possible strep infections are properly identified. Even after a full course of antibiotics, complications can still appear. As much as three weeks later, symptoms of rheumatic fever or inflamed kidneys are possible. Therefore, it may be necessary to carefully monitor the patient when strep is confirmed.