Sore throat generally happens due to a viral infection. It causes inflammation in the throat region and around the tonsils. It usually doesn’t require medicinal treatment and is cured within 7-10 days. Sometimes, a sore throat may be accompanied by a fever.
Tonsillitis happens due to bacterial or viral infection. In this condition, tonsils become swollen and enlarged and may also become red in some cases. Tonsillitis often results in a sore throat and causes difficulty in swallowing. If tonsillitis happens due to a bacterial infection, then the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic treatment to treat the condition.
Strep throat on the other hand is an infection caused due to Streptococcus pyogenes. A sore throat is a common symptom in strep. Strep symptoms in babies differ from those in toddlers, bigger kids and adults. While strep is rare in babies, for toddlers and older kids doctors may give antibiotic treatment to cure them of infection.