A sore throat is usually caused by a virus, and strep throat is caused by a bacteria. Strep throat is the most common type of bacterial infection in the throat, according to MedlinePlus. Caused by an infection with the Streptococcus pyogenes...
Small red bumps on the back of your throat usually come with other symptoms that can help to diagnose your condition. According to the Family Doctor website, an allergy or a bacterial or viral infection are the most likely causes. You might have a...
Many illnesses can cause a fever, including strep throat, stomach virus, upper respiratory flu and mononucleosis. Like many people, you may lose your appetite with a fever -- and even when you do want to eat, most foods may taste funny or upset...
The throat is a tube that carries food to the stomach and air to the windpipe, which then carries air down to the chest and lungs. Because the throat and the lungs are so closely connected, infections can be easily shared between them. Most of...
You might not realize just how much your hands have to do with contagious throat infections. In fact, many contagious diseases are spread through hand-to-hand contact or picked up by touching items used by many people, such as doorknobs and...
Your hands pick up infectious germs and transmit them to your eyes or mouth, resulting in illness. Frequent hand-washing is a method of preventing various diseases, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC suggests washing...
Bumps after a high fever often result from chickenpox, measles and scarlet fever. These illnesses make your child feel miserable and are highly contagious. Always consult with your doctor if your child has a high fever for proper diagnosis and...
According to the American Heart Association, rheumatic heart disease isn't so much of a disease as it is a complication. When someone gets rheumatic fever, it tends to inflame the connective tissue in the body. Nowhere is this more severe than in...
The tongue is susceptible to all sorts of injury from eating and drinking, tooth grinding, biting and rigorous tooth brushing. The Merck Manuals online medical library attributes most issues of tongue discomfort to traumatic injury. Finding a...
The most common contagious diseases are categorized as bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoan. Bacteria are tiny organisms that are pathogenic (cause infectious diseases) or beneficial (aid in digestion). Viral diseases originate from a virus, a...
Tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils become infected by a virus or bacteria. Tonsils are the fleshy tissue on the back sides of the throat. Tonsillitis is common in children, but adults can suffer from it as well. Symptoms vary according to the...
A raw, burning throat may be the cause of a medical condition such as strep throat, tonsillitis or the flu, or it may be the result of vocal overuse. But regardless of the cause of your sore throat, you can numb the pain with cold foods, such as...
From a strep throat to a deadly flesh eating virus, it’s hard to believe the same bacteria are responsible for both diseases. The Textbook of Bacteriology states 5 to 15% of normal people carry these bacteria in the respiratory tract on a...
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) claims there is a strong link between poor academic performance and health-related factors such as chronic illness, physical and emotional abuse and hunger. Other risks factors that affect school performance...
Infections may occur in any part of the body because of pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses that invade and begin to damage cells. Normally, the body fights off the effects of most pathogens before they can cause trouble, but...
Strep throat is caused by the Streptococcal bacteria S. pyogenes, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Most sore throats are caused by viruses, but the symptoms of strep throat usually are much more severe. Antibiotics are necessary to kill S....
Antiseptic mouthwash can be used to treat some of the symptoms that cause sore throat. In fact, according to health maintenance organization Kaiser Permanente, prescription-strength antiseptic mouthwashes are a commonly prescribed treatment. Most...
When you're sick with a sore throat, the simple act of swallowing can be excruciating. Whether you're suffering from strep throat or the common cold, you can soothe your throat and make healing time more bearable by drinking lots of liquids, like...
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils caused by bacteria or a virus. Learn about tonsillitis, including treatments, in this oral health video.
