Mercy's Dr. Ruth Brocato Discusses Sore Throat vs. Strep Throat

Most people have had a sore throat at one time or another, but many wonder when to get treatment for it.

According to Dr. Ruth Brocato, a Primary Care Provider specializing in Family Medicine at Mercy Personal Physicians at Lutherville, if the sore throat comes with cold symptoms like cough and congestion, the patient most likely has a virus which will eventually go away on its own.

But if the patient has a fever and a sore throat without other symptoms, they could have strep throat.

“On exam, strep often has white spots and small red spots on the punching bag, the uvula, and soft pallet swollen glands, fever without coughing or congestion,” Dr. Brocato said.

“I wake up and it's really hard to swallow,” patient Annie Wright said. “I almost feel like there's these bumps in my throat, with trouble eating and sleeping. It’s just really irritable and uncomfortable.”

Strep is a bacterial infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics. Dr. Brocato added that if you have a sore throat, you should see a doctor.

To view Dr. Brocato’s interview regarding strep throat, click here.