A 43-year-old member asked:
how do i know if i have a strep or a sore throat from cold?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
The only way to know: For sure is with strep test/ culture. I would tell you that you get beefy red, enlarged tonsils with exudates and swollen lymph nodes - but sometimes you can have strep with hardly any symptoms. Take care.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
Is it normal to have a sore throat after radiation beam therapy to the neck?
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Dr. Reza Shirazianswered
Radiation Oncology 20 years experience
Yes: This is a common side effect from radiation treating head and neck cancers.
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A 33-year-old member asked:
What can I drink if I have sore throat?
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Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
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Whatever is helpful: Some people's throats feel better after sipping warm drinks, while other people feel better after sipping cold drinks. There are no rules on what one can drink if one has a sore throat, but tart (sour) drinks might make a sore throat worse.
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A 18-year-old member asked:
How to soothe a sore throat?
7 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

Dr. Sahba Ferdowsianswered
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Try Tylenol (acetaminophen) orAdvil: Try tylenol (acetaminophen) or advil.
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Dr. John Chastain commented
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Typical sore throat pain, i.e. that related to sinus drainage, tonsillitis, etc. may be helped by using OTC Hurricaine, Chloraseptic, etc. Eating ice chips and drinking plenty of fluids can help, as well as gargling with warm salt water. A humidifier blowing toward your face may also help.
Nov 24, 2011
A female asked:
I wake up every morning with a sore throat why is that?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. John K Sullivananswered
Dentistry 37 years experience
Mouth breathing: You may breath through your mouth while you sleep, which dries out your mouth and throat. With a dry mouth, certain bacteria can proliferate which causes an odor. Try brushing your tongue as well as your teeth, and when you use mouth rinse, gargle it into the back of your throat as well.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Hi Doctors. How do I know if I have a strep or a sore throat from cold?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
Testing: For significantly sore throat w swollen tonsils / lymph nodes – see physician & get a strep throat test & culture. Antibiotics are imperative for Strep Throat. Try saltwater gargles. Mix tsp of salt in 8 oz of warm water – gargle w this several times/day. You can gargle w Aloe Vera juice a couple of times per day. A mix of chamomile tea w honey & a small amt of lemon juice helps.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Feb 5, 2014
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