Is it strep throat, or something else?

When the temperatures drop dramatically and the world is covered in a blanket of chilling snow, I often find myself waking up with a scratchy, sore throat. You too? Many people are quick to label a sore throat as strep throat or tonsillitis, but having had both when I was growing up, I know better. Strep throat is pretty severe -- here are the signs:

• It's difficult to swallow -- to the point where you avoid food because it hurts too much
• It's often accompanied by a headache
• It comes with a fever -- often a high one
• Your tonsils look red and raw, and have a white puss on them.
  
• Your lymph nodes are swollen.
  
• You don't have a cough, stuffy nose or other respiratory symptoms.
  

To find our more about strep throat, click here.