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Why Do I Haveclear White Blisters At The Back Of My Throat, Swallowing Difficulty, Plugged Ears And Excessive Dry Cough?
Question: Hi, my name is Charissa and I think I have strep throat and the flu. I have clear/white blisters on the back of my throat and I can hardly swallow. My ears are plugged and I'm coughing a lot. It's still a very dry cough.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I'm sorry you are feeling so sick. If there is suspicion for strep, I recommend going to your doctor or an urgent care clinic to have a throat swab which can be used to do a rapid strep test and bacterial throat culture. When they do this they can swab for a rapid flu test as well.
It's important to confirm strep in this way. While many types of infections do not require an antibiotic, strep should be treated with an antibiotic to prevent post infection complications such as rheumatic fever (a heart disease).
Influenza is a viral infection and antibiotics won't help it. If flu is caught early, an antiviral may help shorten the length of time you are sick, but not by a lot.
The clear blisters on the throat are not typical for strep or flu. Usually strep gives swollen neck glands, fever, and a really angry looking throat with pus on the tonsils. Flu also causes a fever and muscle aches - and a runny nose and cough, which you've noted.
Blisters on the throat are more typical of a herpetic viral infection which would be treated with an antiviral.
So - I recommend you go in to an urgent care clinic now. And I recommend that you specifically ask to be seen by a physician and not a PA or NP as what you are describing is not absolutely typical of either strep or flu and needs a higher level of training than a PA or NP has.
Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I'm sorry you are feeling so sick. If there is suspicion for strep, I recommend going to your doctor or an urgent care clinic to have a throat swab which can be used to do a rapid strep test and bacterial throat culture. When they do this they can swab for a rapid flu test as well.
It's important to confirm strep in this way. While many types of infections do not require an antibiotic, strep should be treated with an antibiotic to prevent post infection complications such as rheumatic fever (a heart disease).
Influenza is a viral infection and antibiotics won't help it. If flu is caught early, an antiviral may help shorten the length of time you are sick, but not by a lot.
The clear blisters on the throat are not typical for strep or flu. Usually strep gives swollen neck glands, fever, and a really angry looking throat with pus on the tonsils. Flu also causes a fever and muscle aches - and a runny nose and cough, which you've noted.
Blisters on the throat are more typical of a herpetic viral infection which would be treated with an antiviral.
So - I recommend you go in to an urgent care clinic now. And I recommend that you specifically ask to be seen by a physician and not a PA or NP as what you are describing is not absolutely typical of either strep or flu and needs a higher level of training than a PA or NP has.
Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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