Every year, many people around the world develop cold bouts and seek medical care for pharyngitis (or sore throat), a condition caused by viruses such as COVID-19, influenza, and the common cold. Since sore throat is one of the distinctive symptoms of “Covid-19”, it is useful to know the differences between sore throat caused by viruses (such as Covid, influenza, and the common cold) and sore throat caused by bacteria (including strep throat), according to the “GoHealth Urgent Care” website concerned with health.
Is a sore throat a sign of Covid infection?
With multiple strains emerging since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be confusing to keep track of symptoms; You may wonder whether a sore throat is still a symptom of “Covid-19”, or whether there are other, more common symptoms that you should pay attention to.
Yes, there is still a close relationship between sore throat and “Covid-19”, and sore throat is often one of the initial symptoms. However, Covid-19 is certainly not the only cause of sore throat, nor is it usually the main complaint among people infected with the virus. Sometimes, accompanying symptoms can provide some clues about the cause of a sore throat.
Covid-related sore throat versus viral sore throat
Since COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus, its sore throat symptoms may be similar to those of other viral sore throats. One of the indicators that you have viral pharyngitis is that it is often accompanied by other common symptoms: For example, people with influenza usually experience a runny nose, cough, body aches, fever, and fatigue, in addition to a sore throat.
If you think that these symptoms associated with influenza are very similar to the symptoms of “Covid-19”, then you are right. It is difficult to determine the virus causing pain without conducting appropriate tests.
Covid-related sore throat vs. strep (bacterial) sore throat: How do you differentiate between them?
Sometimes, a sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection. Bacterial pharyngitis is usually accompanied by symptoms that differ from those associated with sore throat caused by “Covid-19”. Although fever is a common symptom of bacterial throat infections, these infections do not cause a cough or runny nose.
Patients with a bacterial infection often have swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and a physical examination may reveal white spots (known as exudates) on the tonsils.
Group A Streptococcus - or "Group A Strep" for short - is the most concerning cause of bacterial pharyngitis. If the patient's test result is positive for this type of bacteria, the use of antibiotics becomes necessary and inevitable.
Contrary to popular belief, antibiotics are not prescribed simply to treat the sore throat itself; Rather, it is given because “Group A” bacteria may spread - if left untreated - to other parts of the body and cause damage to vital organs. Including the heart and kidneys.
About 10 percent of pharyngitis cases are attributed to “group A” bacteria, meaning that one in ten patients requires antibiotics. However, 70 percent of patients with pharyngitis are prescribed antibiotics, making this infection one of the most common causes of antibiotic overuse.
It is worth noting that antibiotics have no effect on viruses, but may cause unnecessary side effects and lead to the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
Finally, it should be noted that viruses do not directly cause “strep throat.” However, infection with the Corona virus “Covid-19” or any other viral infection may weaken your immune system, making you vulnerable to bacterial infections such as streptococcal infection.
When should you get tested if you feel sore throat or have symptoms of “Covid-19”?
Accurate diagnosis of pharyngitis is crucial; Because it identifies patients who will benefit from antibiotic treatment, and those who will benefit from recovering from the infection without the need for any medical intervention.
If you experience sore throat - whether related to Covid-19 or for any other reason - it is important to seek medical care, especially if the pain gets worse or does not go away within 48 hours. Obtaining medical care helps you reach an accurate diagnosis and determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your condition.
If symptoms appear that indicate a specific viral cause - such as infectious mononucleosis (mono), influenza, or “Covid-19” - the necessary tests can be performed to detect this infection and an appropriate treatment plan can be developed.
If there are no other signs of infection, home care measures such as rest, staying hydrated, and using cough lozenges may be recommended.
Streptococcus rapid detection tests (Strep)
Because overuse of antibiotics poses risks, qualified health care providers perform rapid streptococcal tests when a bacterial infection is suspected. To determine whether a patient's symptoms warrant testing, doctors rely on the Centor Criteria, a four-point rating system that determines the likelihood of a bacterial infection.
These four standards are:
Fever
The presence of purulent secretions on the tonsils
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Absence of cough
If these criteria apply to the patient, a streptococcal bacteria test becomes necessary. If these criteria are not met, the probability of contracting a bacterial infection is low, and therefore there is no need for testing.
The rapid strep test is quick and easy; Where the caregiver takes a sample from the site of the infection by gently wiping the patient’s tonsils using a soft cotton swab, then the swab is immediately placed in a container designated for testing. To get results.
On average, rapid test results are available in less than 10 minutes, and these tests are 95 percent accurate. If the test result is negative, and if there is strong suspicion of a bacterial infection, the doctor can send a throat swab to the laboratory, to obtain the result within a few days.
Go to urgent care centers for tests and treatment of sore throat symptoms associated with “Covid-19”.
What is the difference between “Covid-19” and the common cold?
Both Covid-19 and the common cold are caused by viruses. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes Covid-19, while the common cold is often caused by rhinoviruses. All of these viruses spread in similar ways and cause a number of the same symptoms, but there are some differences.
Prunes may not get the same heart-healthy hype as berries, leafy greens, or avocados. But this fruit contains several nutrients and plant compounds that may benefit cardiovascular health.
A cup of fresh, chopped plums contains about 76 calories, 2 grams of fiber, and 259 mg of potassium. Plums also provide vitamin C and polyphenols, which are beneficial plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Together, these nutrients and compounds may help support healthy cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood vessels.
Prunes may help lower bad cholesterol
Cholesterol, especially LDL (bad) cholesterol, is one of the most promising areas of prune health research. High levels of harmful cholesterol can contribute to the accumulation of plaque within the arteries, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke over time, according to the Very Well Health website.
“The fiber in prunes helps bind to unwanted LDL cholesterol, lowering levels and promoting heart health,” said Teresa Di Lorenzo, a registered dietitian and professor of nutritional sciences at Russell Sage College.
Plums contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, but soluble fiber may be especially beneficial for cholesterol. It can reduce the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs and help excrete cholesterol-containing bile acids through your stool, according to Carlin Remedios, a nutritionist.
When gut bacteria break down fiber, they also produce compounds that may help the liver regulate cholesterol levels.
A 2024 study found that people who ate prune products had lower levels of bad cholesterol than those who did not. The effect was more pronounced with prunes. However, the researchers noted that the evidence was limited, so more high-quality studies are needed to better understand how prunes affect cholesterol.
Plums may support healthy blood pressure
Plums also provide potassium, an electrolyte that plays an important role in regulating blood pressure. A cup of chopped plums provides about 259 milligrams.
According to Di Lorenzo, potassium helps the body excrete more sodium through the urine, which may then relieve tension in the walls of blood vessels.
However, prunes alone will not provide all the potassium you need for the day. But it can be combined with other foods rich in potassium, such as beans, leafy vegetables, potatoes, bananas, and yogurt.
Prunes may protect your blood vessels
The rich red, blue and purple colors of some plum varieties are not just decorative. They result in part from anthocyanins, a type of polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
“Blue and purple foods, such as prunes, contain an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which protects blood vessels from oxidative damage, reducing the risk of heart disease,” Di Lorenzo explains.
Remedios added that plums also contain other polyphenols, including chlorogenic acids.
She continued: “Research on polyphenols has shown that these compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and may help protect blood vessels from oxidative stress and support healthy endothelial function by affecting nitric oxide, a molecule that helps blood vessels relax and maintain healthy blood flow.”
However, most studies have examined anthocyanins and other polyphenols across a variety of foods, not plums specifically. More research is needed to determine how eating prunes alone affects heart health.
Many people believe that interest in bone health begins with age, but experts confirm that maintaining their strength begins much earlier, as most bone density and strength are built during childhood, adolescence and the twenties, while its loss begins gradually after that.
Robin Chen, a physician specializing in sports medicine in the United States, said that what a person does in his thirties and forties can affect the health and strength of his bones in the following decades. He explained that bone density reflects the amount of minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus, present in it. Higher density is usually associated with stronger bones that are more resistant to fractures, while lower density leads to an increased risk of injury, whether as a result of falling or even during normal daily activities, according to the American “Real Simple” magazine.
As people age, fractures can become more serious, as they may lead to pain and loss of independence, as well as a higher risk of death, according to Chen. Although the loss of bone density is often associated with aging, Chen stresses that it is never too late to strengthen it, explaining that “bones are living tissues that respond to physical requirements and can adapt and change throughout a person’s life.”
During the forties, the decline in bone density is usually limited in men and women, especially with a healthy diet and regular exercise, but the rate of bone loss accelerates in later stages, especially in women as menopause approaches and estrogen levels decline.
One of the problems with weak bones, according to Chen, is that loss of density often occurs without obvious symptoms, and a person may not realize the problem until he suffers a fracture, which explains why osteoporosis is described as a “silent disease.” Therefore, timely examinations can be important, along with early attention to bone health.
Daily habits
According to experts, bone health can be supported through a set of daily habits, the most important of which is practicing physical activities that place weight on the bones, such as walking, running, jumping, and dancing, in addition to resistance exercises that stimulate bone remodeling and help maintain their density. Chen recommends practicing at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity daily, and muscle-strengthening exercises at least 3 days per week, focusing on the hips and spine.
Improving balance and coordination also helps reduce the risk of falls and fractures, and this can be achieved with simple exercises such as standing on one leg, walking with the heel of the foot in front of the other toes, and side steps. Bones also need sufficient amounts of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. If a person believes that he is not getting enough of these elements, he can consult a doctor about the necessary tests and treatment of any deficiency. On the other hand, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity can negatively affect bone density. Therefore, reducing these factors, along with physical activity and proper nutrition, can help maintain healthy and strong bones as you age.
