What’s the Difference Between “Strep Tongue” and Sore Throat? We’re Developing a Vaccine for One

What’s the Difference? is a novel editorial product that explains the similarities and differences between commonly confused health and medical terms and why they matter.

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It’s the time of year for coughs, colds, and sore throats. So you’ve probably heard people talk about “strep throat.”

But what is it? Is it just a sore throat that goes away on its own after a day or two? Should you be worried?

Here’s what we know about the similarities and differences between strep throat and a sore throat, and why they matter.

How are they similar?

It is hard to distinguish a sore throat from streptococcal tonsillitis because the signs and symptoms of both diseases are similar.

People usually have a fever, a brilliant red throat, and sometimes painful lumps in the neck (swollen lymph nodes). A throat swab can facilitate diagnose strep throat, but it takes a few days to get the results.

Fortunately, both types of sore throats usually go away. by themselves.

How are they different?

Most sore throats are caused by viruses, such as colds, flu, or the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus).

These viral sore throats can occur at any age. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, so if you have a viral sore throat, you will not get better any faster if you take antibiotics. You may even have some side effects antibiotic side effects.

But streptococcal tonsillitis is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, also known as A streptococci. Streptococcal tonsillitis is the most common disease school-age childrenbut it can affect other age groups. In some cases, you may need antibiotics to avoid uncommon but solemn complications.

In fact, the possibility of complications is one of the fundamental differences between viral pharyngitis and streptococcal pharyngitis.

Generally speaking, viral sore throat is very unlikely cause complications (the exception being those caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which is associated with diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and certain tumors).

But strep A can cause invasive disease, a uncommon but solemn complication. It happens when bacteria that live somewhere on the body (usually the skin or throat) get into another part of the body where they shouldn’t be, such as the bloodstream. This can make people very ill.

There have been reports of invasive Group A Streptococcal infections and deaths. increasing in recent years Around the Worldespecially in youthful children and the elderly. This may be due to a number of factors, such as increased social mixing at this stage of the COVID pandemic and an raise in the number of circulating chilly viruses. However, overall, the reasons for the raise in invasive streptococcal A infections are not clear.

Another uncommon but solemn side effect of strep A is autoimmune disease. This happens when the body’s immune system produces antibodies that react against its own cells.

The most common example is rheumatic heart diseaseThis happens when the body’s immune system damages the heart valves weeks or months after a sore throat or skin infection.

Around the World More than 40 million people suffer from rheumatic heart disease and more than 300,000 die from its complications each year, mostly in developing countries.

However, in some parts of Australia there are some highest rates cases of rheumatic heart disease in the world. Over 5300 Indigenous Australians live with it.

Why do some people get more ill than others?

We know that streptococcal A infections and rheumatic heart disease are more common in low socioeconomic communities where poverty and overcrowding lead to increased streptococcus A transmission and disease.

However, we do not fully understand why in some people streptococcal infections are only gentle, while in others the disease is severe and invasive.

We also don’t understand why some people develop rheumatic heart disease after type A streptococcal infections, while most others don’t. Our research team is trying to find out.

How about the Streptococcus A vaccine?

There is no vaccine against Streptococcus A, but many groups IN Australia, New Zealand AND all over the world working to achieve one thing.

For example, the Murdoch Institute for Childhood Research and the Telethon Kids Institute have established Australian Streptococcus A vaccine initiative to develop vaccines against Streptococcus A. There is also global consortium working towards the same goal.

Companies like Vaccine AND GlaxoSmithKline are also developing vaccines against Streptococcus A.

What should I do if I have a sore throat?

Most sore throats will go away on their own. But if yours doesn’t go away within a few days or you have a persistent fever, see your GP.

Your GP can examine you, consider doing some tests and facilitate you decide if you need antibiotics.