How do you know if it’s strep throat or sore throat?

Sore throats are pretty common. In fact, they make up about 6% of all primary care visits. Of those appointments, only about 20-30% of people test positive for strep.

Strep throat is most common in children ages 5-15 during the winter. While it's a seasonal illness, it can occur year-round.

A plain old sore throat is much more likely than strep throat. But how can you tell when it's time to take your child to their doctor?

Check out the latest Cultivating Health blog for answers to this and many other questions.

Other recent additions to the Cultivating Health blog include:

• Struggling with dry skin this winter? Check out these tips to keep skin moisturized
• What you should know about measles and how the MMR vaccine can protect your family
• Pancreatic cancer: Top causes, common symptoms, and treatment options
• Is pneumonia contagious? Learn the early warning signs and treatments for this common illness
• What causes kidney stones and ways you can try to avoid them
• Joint replacement: Is hip or knee replacement surgery right for you?

About Cultivating Health

At UC Davis Health, we aim to teach and lead people to live a healthy lifestyle. The blog is a user-friendly guide of tips for our community to cultivate health through all stages of life and is produced by Public Affairs and Marketing.