Common cold vs. strep throat: How to help tell the difference
Knowing how to help identify each illness may help fast-track the road to recovery.
There are a lot of illnesses in the world, and many of them can cause similar symptoms. The common cold and strep throat happen to be two of them. Knowing how to help tell these two illnesses apart can help people quickly access the right kind of care.
This article can help people understand what can cause each illness, which of their symptoms may overlap and why each requires a different type of management.
In this article:
What is the common cold?
There are more than 200 types of respiratory viruses out there that can cause a cold. Rhinoviruses are the most common culprits throughout the U.S., but there are others that can also cause a cold.
These illnesses can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A lot of respiratory viruses make their way around during the winter months, but people can catch colds any time of year.
They’re also quite common. Each year in the United States, adults experience an average of two to three colds. Children tend to get even more.
What is strep throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that affects the throat and tonsils. It’s caused by group A Streptococcus (group A strep bacteria). Symptoms typically show up anywhere from two to five days after exposure. Close contact with someone who has strep throat is the most common factor for getting sick.
Health care providers can test for strep throat using a rapid strep test or throat culture. If the results come back positive, they’ll usually prescribe antibiotics to help treat the infection.
Strep throat symptoms in kids vs. adults
Strep throat tends to affect kids more often than adults. Children ages 5 to 15 are more likely to experience symptoms than any other age group. Because strep throat spreads through close contact with an infected person, schools and daycare centers can quickly become hotbeds for transmission.
Common symptoms may include fever, pain while swallowing and red, swollen tonsils. Adults may also experience headaches, nausea and stomach pain, but these symptoms are typically less common, especially in children.
Think it could be strep throat? Make an appointment with a health care provider or visit a nearby MinuteClinic location today.
Why do people confuse the common cold with strep throat?
One reason why so many people may confuse the common cold with strep throat is because of the symptoms they cause.
The common cold can cause soreness around the throat. Strep throat can do the same, but it can also cause tiny red spots to appear on the roof of the mouth. People with strep throat might also notice white patches or streaks of pus on their tonsils.
While both illnesses can cause throat pain, there are important differences in how symptoms may appear.
The common cold vs. strep throat: What’s the difference?
Even though the common cold and strep throat can both cause throat pain, there are significant differences between the two illnesses. Knowing how to tell the two apart can help make it easier to decide how to manage symptoms and when to see a health care provider.
There are more than 200 different respiratory viruses that can cause a cold. This can make it difficult to tell which virus has caused a cold.
Strep throat is caused by group A Streptococcus (group A strep bacteria), which is a bit easier to identify.
While both illnesses can cause fever and throat pain, they typically cause different symptoms.
For instance, the common cold can cause:
- Body aches
- Cough
- Runny or stuffy nose
Common symptoms of strep throat may include:
- Red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes or tonsils
- White patches on the tonsils
Typically, a physical exam is enough to determine if someone has a cold. If a health care provider suspects another illness, such as COVID-19, flu or strep throat, they may test for those conditions.
Health care providers typically test for strep throat using a rapid strep test or a throat culture. The process for both is relatively similar, but throat cultures tend to be a bit more accurate. This can be especially important for children and teens, since untreated strep infections can sometimes lead to complications like rheumatic fever.
Most colds usually last less than a week, with signs and symptoms usually peaking within two to three days of infection.
It can take anywhere from two to five days after exposure to get sick with strep throat. People should stay home from work, school or daycare until they no longer have a fever. They’ll also need to have taken antibiotics for at least 12 to 24 hours. The full course of treatment for strep throat typically lasts about 10 days.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help manage symptoms of the common cold. Cough drops, saline nasal sprays and throat lozenges can provide some relief, too. Antibiotics are almost always prescribed to help treat strep throat.
People with either illness should be sure to drink plenty of fluids. They can also try gargling with salt water, sucking on ice chips and using a cool mist humidifier to help ease throat pain.
As a general note, people should speak with their health care provider before starting or stopping any medication. They should also discuss age restrictions related to certain products.
While the common cold and strep throat may share similar symptoms, their complications are typically different.
Complications of the common cold may include:
- Asthma attacks
- Bronchitis or bronchiolitis (infection of the small airways)
- Middle ear or sinus infections
- Pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
- Worsening of some chronic medical conditions
Complications of strep throat may include:
- Abscesses (pockets of pus) around the tonsils or in the neck
- Ear infections
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (a kidney disease)
- Rheumatic fever (a disease affecting the brain, heart, joints and skin)
- Sinus infections
When to see a health care provider
Anyone with strep throat should be seen again if their symptoms don’t improve within a couple of days after starting an antibiotic.
Talk to a health care provider if someone has a rash, sore throat or any other concerning symptoms.
Key takeaways
People sometimes have a hard time understanding the difference between a common cold and something more serious, like strep throat. Most of that confusion revolves around the illnesses’ symptoms. With strep throat, people might notice tiny red spots on the roof of their mouths or white patches on the tonsils. These symptoms don’t occur with the common cold. With a cold, people might instead develop a cough, runny nose or other issues with their upper respiratory tract.
Here's the other thing: Colds typically go away on their own. People with colds can help manage their symptoms with OTC medications and by getting plenty of rest. Strep throat is usually treated with antibiotics. If someone is unsure of which illness they have, they should visit a health care provider for answers and any medication they might need.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Strep throat can be diagnosed with a throat culture or a rapid strep throat test done with a throat swab. These tests should be administered by a health care professional.
Someone might confuse strep throat with any illness that causes a sore throat. This could include COVID-19 or the flu. Allergies and irritating activities like smoking can also contribute to a sore throat.
Health care providers treat strep throat with antibiotics to help people feel better faster. Strep throat can also lead to other complications like rheumatic fever, which can affect the brain, heart, joints and skin.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your health care provider if you have any questions about medications, vitamins or supplements you may be considering or changes to your wellness or health care routines.
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FOR QUICKLY ACCESS THE RIGHT KIND OF CARE SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.
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FOR WHAT IS THE COMMON COLD SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About common cold. Published February 19, 2026.
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FOR WHAT IS STREP THROAT SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.
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FOR RAPID STREP TEST OR THROAT CULTURE SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever. Published March 1, 2024.
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FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 15 SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.
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FOR THE COMMON COLD CAN CAUSE SORENESS AROUND THE THROAT SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About common cold. Published February 19, 2026.
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FOR WHITE PATCHES OR STREAKS OF PUS ON THEIR TONSILS SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.
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FOR MORE THAN 200 DIFFERENT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About common cold. Published February 19, 2026.
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FOR STREP THROAT IS CAUSED BY SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.
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FOR COMMON COLD CAN CAUSE SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About common cold. Published February 19, 2026.
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FOR COMMON SYMPTOMS OF STREP THROAT MAY INCLUDE SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.
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FOR RAPID STREP TEST SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever. Published August 7, 2025.
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FOR LAST LESS THAN A WEEK SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About common cold. Published February 19, 2026.
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FOR IT CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM TWO TO FIVE DAYS AFTER EXPOSURE TO GET SICK WITH STREP THROAT SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Published January 15, 2026.
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FOR 12 to 24 HOURS SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever. Published August 7, 2025.
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FOR ANTIBIOTICS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS PRESCRIBED TO HELP TREAT STREP THROAT SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.
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FOR GARGLING WITH SALT WATER, SUCKING ON ICE CHIPS AND USING A COOL MIST HUMIDIFIER SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sore throat basics. Published April 17, 2024.
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FOR COMPLICATIONS OF STREP THROAT MAY INCLUDE SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.
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FOR WHEN TO SEE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever. Published August 7, 2025.
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FOR THROAT CULTURE OR A RAPID STREP THROAT TEST DONE WITH A THROAT SWAB SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for strep throat or scarlet fever. Published March 1, 2024.
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FOR PROVIDERS TREAT STREP THROAT WITH ANTIBIOTICS SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Published January 15, 2026.
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FOR STREP THROAT CAN ALSO LEAD TO OTHER COMPLICATIONS SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About strep throat. Updated January 15, 2026.