Visited a sick friend, now have same symptoms: very sore swollen red throat, a lot of pain swallowing, coughing, muscle pain, congestion. strep? cold?

Yes! Probably cold: Both can be the cause; however the presence of a cough makes strep much less likely. This is an unusual time for flu. These sound like viral symptoms, so managing them symptomatically makes sense. Fluids, tylenol (acetaminophen) or Ibuprofen if desired as long as no contraindications, and rest. If your symptoms change or worsen, may need to be seen.

Sxs: If you have a significantly sore throat w swollen tonsils / lymph nodes – see your medical provider & get a strep throat test & culture. Saltwater gargles are very helpful. Mix a teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of warm water – gargle with this several times a day. You can gargle with aloe vera juice a couple of times per day. A mixture of chamomile tea with honey & a small amount of lemon juice is good.