Lately, we have been seeing people coming to our New Britain AFC urgent care center with strep throat-like symptoms. It’s not necessarily COVID-19 or flu related. Strep throat is a different type of winter illness that can cause that scratch in your throat, and more. It can often be tough to differentiate between strep, or “Streptococcal pharyngitis”-a bacterial  infection of the throat and the tonsils, and a sore throat, which can oftentimes be viral, and not treatable with antibiotics.  

This is why it is important to have a rapid strep test as a first step towards treatment. AFC Urgent Care New Britain is aware of the increase in COVID-19 cases and people coming in with sore throats. We created this guide to help you keep the panic under control,  understand symptoms of strep throat and how they differ from COVID-19.

Isn’t Strep Throat The Same Thing As A Sore Throat?

Sometimes, not always. We mentioned earlier that strep throat is a bacterial infection versus your typical sore throat that you might get from a viral infection like the flu, COVID-19 or the common cold. Symptoms of strep throat are often more severe when it comes to the throat and tonsils. 

You should watch out for these symptoms when it comes to strep throat:

• A fever may begin suddenly and is often highest on the second day. You may have chills
• Red sore throat, sometimes with white patches
• Swollen Uvula
• Gray furry tongue
• It may hurt to swallow
• You may feel swollen, tender glands in your neck

Other symptoms may include:

• General feelings of fatigue and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Nausea
• Some strains of strep throat can lead to a scarlet fever-like rash. The rash first appears on the neck and chest, then it spreads over the body

Viral infections like the flu, COVID-19 or a cold are usually accompanied by other respiratory symptoms like coughing, congestion, and trouble breathing. Strep throat does not normally come with these symptoms.

Let’s go over the differences between colds, flu and COVID-19 here.

Is There a Test For Strep Throat?

Yes, and your best bet is to get tested. If you or your child tests negative for COVID-19 and are experiencing a severe sore throat, then chances are its strep throat. Luckily for you, there is a test for strep. 

Just like COVID-19 rapid tests, AFC Urgent Care New Britain also offers a rapid strep test (throat swab) to see if strep grows from it. It’s important to know that strep throat is very common among children and can be recurring if precaution and aftercare are not taken. 

This is because strep is highly contagious and spreads by person-to-person contact with fluids from the nose or saliva. It can also spread among family or household members. At the same time, our kids can get it from school, often a petri dish, and interact with other kids who are sick. 

I tested Negative For COVID-19, But Positive For Strep!

AFC Urgent Care New Britain understands the confusion among the different winter illnesses out there. At this time the Omicron variant is circulating around Connecticut and more people are coming to our center with sore throats. Whether it’s COVID-19, flu, cold or strep related, it’s best to get a proper diagnosis and tested here at our center.

We also highly suggest getting vaccinated for the flu, COVID-19 and taking extra precautions against these viral infections. Strep throat may sound like another hassle to deal with this winter, but the sooner you come in, the sooner treatment can start as you or your loved one will need to take antibiotics to relieve a strep throat infection.

We’re always here for you and can perform COVID-19 testing 7 days a week, no appointment is needed to help rule that out too.