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Nowadays, dealing with an itchy and sore throat isn’t just uncomfortable, but possibly anxiety-inducing too. After all, a sore throat is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-191 and affects many who test positive for it. However, it’s worth remembering that prior to the pandemic, there were other culprits responsible for a sore throat, such as other viruses or bacteria.
You read that right — a sore throat can be caused by either a virus or a bacteria strain. Learn about the difference between a viral and bacterial sore throat, and find out how to treat sore throat.
Learn the Difference: Viral and Bacterial Sore Throat
The main difference between these two is what causes it — either a virus or bacteria that can trigger sore throat.
There are many known types of contagious viruses that may trigger a viral sore throat. These include rhinoviruses (known for causing the common cold), influenza, mononucleosis, measles, chicken pox, and even COVID-19.2 A viral sore throat can resolve in around five to seven days.
A bacterial sore throat, more commonly known as strep throat, occurs because of contagious group A streptococcus bacteria that can be passed via respiratorydroplets or direct contact with infected people.4 People with a bacterial sore throat who haven’t taken any treatments to resolve it may struggle with a sore throat for around seven to 10 days.
Is There a Way to Distinguish These Two From Each Other?
It can be difficult to distinguish a viral and bacterial sore throat from each other right away because of their similar symptoms. Despite this, it’s still a good idea to monitor possible indicators accordingly - take note of the usual signs of a viral and bacterial sore throat.
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Viral sore throat
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Painful throat
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Pain or even difficulty while swallowing
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Fever
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Headaches
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Body aches
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Cough
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Runny nose
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Sneezing
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Swollen glands on the neck and jaw
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Tiny spots on the soft or hard palate
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Rashes
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Swollen lymph nodes
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Stomach and abdominal pain
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Nausea or vomiting
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To diagnose a sore throat, a doctor will often ask about your symptoms and inspect the back of your throat for redness, swelling, and white spots. They can also check for swollen glands by feeling the sides of your neck.
For people exhibiting signs of a strep throat though, your doctor may perform either a rapid strep test or a throat culture. The former involves your doctor swabbing the back of your throat and performing a rapid test on the sample. 10 The results can come out in as fast as 15 minutes.
If the test results come back positive, your doctor may need to perform a throat culture. This entails your doctor running a swab over the back of your throat once more and sending the sample to a laboratory for further analysis. Results can come back in one to two days.
Sore Throat Treatment: How to Go About It
To address a sore throat, it’s important to know what caused it in the first place. Viruses and bacteria strains are treated differently from each other. If you notice symptoms, consult a doctor immediately to know whether you’re dealing with a viral or bacterial sore throat.
If you were diagnosed with a bacterial sore throat, you may need antibiotic treatment to address the cause of the health issue and reduce your risk for complications.
If the symptoms point to a viral sore throat, make sure to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better. You don’t want to be that person that passes this sickness to others. Always wash your hands too so that the virus responsible for the sore throat won’t spread.
Don’t forget to get plenty of sleep, rest your voice, drink lots of water, and avoid drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. If you have a cool-air humidifier, use it to drive away dry air that can worsen a sore throat.
Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®): What’s in It?
Once you notice the signs of a sore throat, you may also take Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) right away. It contains Paracetamol that helps relieve the pain that comes with sore throat, which may be accompanied by other flu symptoms.
Note that a viral sore throat can also be an early warning sign of the flu. Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) also has a nasal decongestant in Phenylephrine HCl and an antihistamine in Chlorphenamine Maleate that may be helpful should the sore throat be accompanied with other flu symptoms like fever, body pain, colds, and cough from post-nasal drip.
Moreover, Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) may also help shield your respiratory cells against the common cold and flu virus.
Adults and children 12 years and older are advised to take one (1) tablet of Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) every six (6) hours, or as recommended by a doctor. Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) may work in as fast as 15 minutes.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
ASC REF CODE U087P010623BS; U0067P050423B
