Influenza (flu) and strep throat may seem like one and the same, but they are two very different illnesses and the primary distinction is the origin of the disease. The flu is caused by a virus and strep throat is caused by bacteria.
Strep throat and influenza may also share some symptoms, but the key symptomatic differences help to tell them apart in diagnosis. Both illnesses are highly contagious and can result in harmful complications – especially for at-risk groups like seniors, children, pregnant women, and those with weaker immune systems.
