
Strep throat - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic
Nov 30, 2022 · Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. Strep throat accounts for only a small portion of sore throats. If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever.
COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu: What are the differences?
Nov 27, 2024 · COVID-19 symptoms usually start 2 to 14 days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Flu symptoms usually appear about 1 to 4 days after exposure to an influenza virus. COVID-19 can cause more-serious illnesses in some people than can the flu. Also, COVID-19 can cause different complications from those of the flu.
Strep throat - Diagnosis & treatment - Mayo Clinic
Nov 30, 2022 · For strep throat, some basic questions to ask your doctor include: What's likely causing these signs and symptoms? What are other possible causes? What tests are needed? What treatment approach do you recommend? How soon do you expect symptoms to improve with treatment? How long will this be contagious? When is it safe to return to school or work?
COVID-19 vs. flu: Similarities and differences - Mayo Clinic
Jul 22, 2023 · COVID-19 and the flu are both contagious respiratory diseases. They are both caused by viruses. They have some common symptoms. But COVID-19 and flu infections can affect people differently. Also, since the flu has been around much longer, health care providers know more about how to treat it, while they continue to learn more about COVID-19.
Influenza (flu) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Jan 28, 2025 · Flu, also called influenza, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs, which are part of the respiratory system. The flu is caused by a virus. Influenza viruses are different from the "stomach flu" viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. Most people with the flu …
Mayo Clinic Minute: Is it sore throat or strep throat?
Nov 29, 2019 · A sore throat is a common symptom of an upper respiratory infection such as a cold or flu. It's also a symptom of a bacterial infection commonly referred to as strep throat . How can you tell if your child's sore throat is caused by a viral or bacterial infection?
Influenza (flu) - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
Jan 28, 2025 · To diagnose the flu, also called influenza, your healthcare professional does a physical exam, looks for symptoms of flu and possibly orders a test that detects flu viruses. The viruses that cause flu spread at high levels during certain times of the year in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Coronavirus vs. flu: Similarities and differences
Aug 13, 2020 · What's the difference between COVID-19 and the flu? COVID-19 and the flu have several differences. COVID-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, while influenza is caused by influenza A and B viruses. Symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu appear at different times and have some ...
Infection: Bacterial or viral? - Mayo Clinic
Feb 4, 2023 · Viruses that become resistant to antivirals have affected treatment, including for genital herpes, HIV and, in 2008, for influenza (flu). Treating and preventing bacterial and viral infections. In some cases, it can be hard to figure out if a bacterial infection or a viral infection is causing your symptoms.
Infectious Diseases A-Z: Flu versus the common cold
Feb 5, 2018 · The more intense flu symptoms tend to come on more abruptly than the gradual, more mild symptoms of a cold. Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic, explains these two viral illnesses.