Mononucleosis VS. Strep Throat: What Are the Main Differences?

Many medical conditions have overlapping symptoms, making them appear similar. This is particularly true for mononucleosis (often called "mono") and strep throat, which share some symptoms but also have distinct differences crucial for diagnosis and treatment. It is important to know which one you have so that you can recover faster by taking the proper steps. 

What is Mononucleosis?

Mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which has infected approximately 95% of the population at some point in their lives.

What is Strep Throat?

In contrast, strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by the Streptococcus bacterium, affecting the throat and tonsils. It spreads through contact with droplets from an infected person.

Mono vs Strep Throat Signs and Symptoms

Both conditions can cause a sore throat, but their other symptoms differ:

• Strep Throat: Typically involves painful swallowing, swollen tonsils, and might include white patches or streaks of pus in the throat.
• Mononucleosis: Often leads to significant fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and occasionally, a swollen spleen. If you experience upper left abdominal pain (a sign of a swollen spleen), seek medical attention immediately.

Treatment and Recovery

• ‍Mononucleosis: Being that mono is a virus—virus do not have 'cures' in the traditional sense that infections can be cured with antibiotics—often the best course of action is to eat well, keep drinking fluids, and get plenty of rest to help the virus pass.
• Strep Throat: Strep throat on the other hand will typically require antibiotics to be treated. If the sore throat from either condition is too much, your doctor may prescribe an over the counter medication. You can also try home remedies like gargling with salt water or drinking warm tea. Of course, you should also try to eat well, drink fluids, and get good rest with strep throat as well. Doing these basic things can help you recover from many illnesses much quicker. 
  

Long Term Effects

Unfortunately, when it comes to long term effects, mono is usually worse than strep throat. It is not always the case, but some symptoms from mono can last for weeks to months in some cases. The sore throat caused by mono will usually be gone within a few weeks, but effects like fatigue can hang around and an individual may even develop chronic fatigue syndrome. Continue to keep your doctor informed of any long-lasting symptoms or if your symptoms get worse. 

Consult with Your Doctor

One stable truth for both of these conditions is to always consult with your doctor. This is especially true if you are experiencing heavy or difficult symptoms. The doctor may just quickly diagnose you and send you away with a prescription to recover faster, but this is better than the condition getting much worse before seeking medical care. Both of these conditions can have some rare extreme symptoms that can be dangerous. If you experience any symptoms past just a sore throat and other common afflictions, then you should seek medical care. 

Seeking a Good Doctor?

If you are searching for a good primary care doctor or some type of specialist, then contact BASS Medical Group. With over 40 different locations around Northern California, were ready to accommodate you no matter where you live. Our goal is to ensure that you have a safe and effective practitioner and are happy with your medical care. Let us help you find the perfect provider by calling a doctor from our directory or reaching out via our appointment request form.