Whether it’s scratchy irritation that makes swallowing painful or a severe infection like strep throat causing fever and fatigue, throat pain shouldn’t be ignored — especially when symptoms intensify or don’t improve with home remedies.
At Complete Care, we understand that throat infections don’t wait for convenient appointment times. Our freestanding emergency rooms are equipped to diagnose and treat both common sore throats and bacterial infections like strep throat with the same advanced technology you’d find at a hospital ER — but we offer shorter wait times and a more comfortable experience.
Don’t let throat pain disrupt your life or risk developing into something more serious. With multiple Complete Care freestanding ER locations open 24/7, you can walk in anytime without an appointment and receive expert emergency care when you need it most.
For life-threatening situations, please call 911.
Table of Contents
- What are the different types of sore throat?
- What are the common symptoms of a sore throat?
- What are the symptoms of strep throat?
- At what point do you go to the ER for a sore throat or strep throat?
- FAQs
What are the different types of sore throat?
While the throat pain might feel similar, the cause behind your discomfort makes a big difference in how it should be treated. Understanding the distinction between strep throat vs. sore throat caused by other factors can help you know when to seek emergency care.
Viral sore throat
| Causes Stems from viral infections like the common cold, flu, or mono |
| Symptoms • Runny nose • Cough, or congestion • Difficulty swallowing • Fever |
| Treatment Can usually resolve on their own within a week and don’t require antibiotics |
Strep throat (bacterial infection)
| Causes Group A Streptococcus bacteria |
| Symptoms • Sudden, severe throat pain • Difficulty swallowing • High fever • Swollen lymph nodes • White patches on tonsils • Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth |
| Treatment Requires antibiotic treatment |
Mono
| Causes Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) spread through saliva |
| Symptoms • Low-grade fever • Extreme, prolonged fatigue • Swollen lymph nodes • Enlarged spleen • Head and body aches • Skin rashes |
| Treatment Won’t respond to antibiotics; will go away on its own with over-the-counter medicine and rest |
Tonsillitis
| Causes Viral and bacterial infections |
| Symptoms • Inflamed or swollen tonsils • Headache and ear pain • Nausea or upset stomach • White or yellow discoloration of the tonsils • Difficult or painful swallowing • Low fever • Bad breath • Loss of appetite • Blisters or ulcers in the throat |
| Treatment Antivirals or antibiotics; steroids or surgery in more extreme cases |
Sore throats can also result from allergies, dry air, acid reflux, or irritants like smoke and pollution. While these are typically less serious, persistent symptoms still warrant medical evaluation. At Complete Care, we can perform rapid testing to identify the cause of your throat pain and provide appropriate treatment quickly.
What are the common symptoms of a sore throat?
While mild throat discomfort is usually manageable, certain symptoms signal that it’s time to seek professional medical attention, such as:
- Pain and scratchiness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swollen glands
- Redness and inflammation
- Fever and body aches
- Other respiratory symptoms
It’s important to recognize when a sore throat might be part of a more serious respiratory illness. Conditions like bronchitis, RSV symptoms and treatments, or even roseola infantum virus in young children can present with throat pain alongside other concerning symptoms.
If you’re experiencing a high fever that won’t break, severe difficulty swallowing, trouble breathing, or symptoms that worsen instead of improve, don’t wait — visit Complete Care for immediate evaluation and treatment.
What are the symptoms of strep throat?
Strep throat has some distinct characteristics that set it apart from other types of sore throats. While only a medical test can definitively diagnose strep, knowing these specific symptoms can help you recognize when you need immediate medical attention.
- Sudden, severe throat pain
- Painful swallowing
- Red, swollen tonsils with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck
- Fever (often 101°F or higher)
- Headache and body aches
- Nausea or vomiting (especially in children)
- Rash (in some cases)
Strep throat can sometimes be tricky to identify because it shares symptoms with other throat infections. You might be wondering about mono vs. strep throat or tonsillitis vs. strep throat — and that’s exactly why professional testing matters.
Unlike a typical viral sore throat, strep usually hits hard and fast without the coughing or runny nose you’d expect from a cold. At Complete Care, we can run a rapid strep test to confirm what’s causing your symptoms and get you started on antibiotics right away if needed.
At what point do you go to the ER for a sore throat or strep throat?
Most sore throats can wait for a regular doctor’s appointment, but the following warning signs mean you shouldn’t delay getting emergency care.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Excessive drooling (especially in children)
- Severe pain that prevents you from swallowing liquids
- High fever that doesn’t respond to medication
- Stiff neck or severe headache
- Symptoms lasting more than a week without improvement
- Dehydration from the inability to drink fluids
- Swelling in the throat that feels like it’s closing
- Muffled voice or inability to speak clearly
Trust your instincts — if something feels seriously wrong, don’t wait it out at home. Untreated strep throat can lead to complications like abscesses, rheumatic fever, or kidney inflammation.
Sore throat — FAQs
Can you have strep without a sore throat?
Yes, it’s possible to have strep throat without significant throat pain, though it’s less common. Some people experience mild discomfort or no throat symptoms at all, but may still have fever, headache, and swollen glands — symptoms that can sometimes be confused with other illnesses like the cold and flu or even measles symptoms and treatment concerns in children.
What is the best treatment for strep throat in adults?
Strep throat requires antibiotics prescribed by a medical professional — typically penicillin or amoxicillin. The right strep throat medicine will eliminate the bacteria, reduce contagiousness within 24 hours, and prevent serious complications like rheumatic fever or kidney damage.
Do strep throat home remedies work?
While strep throat home remedies like warm salt water gargles, throat lozenges, and plenty of fluids can help ease your symptoms, they won’t cure the bacterial infection. You’ll still need antibiotics to fully eliminate strep bacteria and avoid potentially dangerous complications.
Throat pain won’t wait for business hours — neither should your care
When it comes to a sore throat or strep throat, you shouldn’t have to suffer through the pain or worry about complications while waiting days for a doctor’s appointment. With a 24/7 freestanding ER like Complete Care, you can get care whenever you need it most.
Complete Care’s freestanding emergency rooms combine the advanced diagnostic capabilities and treatment options of a hospital ER with shorter wait times and a more comfortable, patient-focused experience. Our medical teams are equipped to quickly identify what’s causing your throat pain, provide immediate relief, and prescribe the right treatment to get you back to your normal routine.
With convenient locations throughout Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, East Texas, Lubbock, San Antonio, and Colorado Springs, quality emergency care is never far away.
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