You wake up with a scratchy throat. But what do you do next? Do you reach for hot tea or call a doctor? It depends.
If a sore throat is caused by a cold or flu, you may be able to wait it out and treat it at home. If it’s caused by strep throat, however, you’ll need to go to a doctor to get antibiotics. Here are ways to tell the difference between the two, and why those differences are so important. But be careful: It can be difficult to tell a sore throat and strep throat apart, so a visit to a doctor for a definite diagnosis is often the right move.