A sore throat can stem from either a viral or bacterial infection, though it can be difficult to identify which one you have without the guidance of a medical professional. However, there are a few key differences that may point you in the right direction.   A sore throat caused by a bacterial infection is known as strep throat. It is caused by the streptococcus bacteria and is extremely contagious, spreading through contaminated air or surfaces that are harboring the bacteria. This can be done when someone infected with the infection coughs or touches communal surfaces.    Symptoms of a bacterial sore throat include swollen tonsils, a runny nose, nausea, nausea/vomiting, a raspy voice, or no voice altogether. A strep infection also makes it very painful to swallow and is often accompanied by a fever of 101F or higher. In comparison, a viral infection is caused by inflammation of throat tissue due to contracting a virus, such as a cold. The most common symptoms are coughing, sneezing, swelling of the throat, and a runny nose.   While a viral sore throat will usually clear up on its own, a bacterial infection requires antibiotics to be treated. As the two types of sore throats can sometimes be hard to distinguish from each other, it’s always best to consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.