What is the Difference Between Diphtheria and Strep Throat

The key difference between diphtheria and strep throat is that diphtheria is a disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while Strep throat is a disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.

Bacterial diseases or infections are caused by harmful bacteria growing inside the human body. There are numerous bacterial diseases such as skin diseases, respiratory diseases, gastro or food poisoning, sexually transmitted diseases, and urinary tract diseases. Diphtheria and strep throat are two different bacterial diseases seen in humans.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Diphtheria 
3. What is Strep Throat
4. Similarities – Diphtheria and Strep Throat
5. Diphtheria vs. Strep Throat in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Diphtheria and Strep Throat
7. Summary – Diphtheria vs. Strep Throat

What is Diphtheria?

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial disease that normally affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. The signs and symptoms of this condition usually begin 2 to 5 days after a person becomes infected. The signs and symptoms of diphtheria may include a thick, gray membrane covering the throat and tonsils, a sore throat and hoarseness, swollen glands, difficulty breathing or rapid breathing, nasal discharges, fever and chills, and tiredness. Moreover, diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which spreads through airborne droplets and contaminated personal or household items. The complications that arise from diphtheria are breathing problems, heart damage, and nerve damage.

Diphtheria can be diagnosed through physical examination and laboratory culturing. Furthermore, treatment options for diphtheria may include giving antibiotics and antitoxins.

What is Strep Throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that makes the throat feel sore and scratchy. The signs and symptoms of strep throat may include throat pain that comes on quickly, painful swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, tiny red spots on the soft or hard palate, fever, headache, rash, nausea or vomiting, and body aches. Strep throat is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes or group A Streptococcus. The complications involved in strep throat are infections in the tonsils, sinuses, skin, blood, and middle ear, scarlet fever, inflammation of the kidney, rheumatic fever, and post-streptococcal reactive arthritis, which is a condition that causes inflammation of joints.

Strep throat can be diagnosed through physical examination, rapid antigen test, molecular PCR test, and throat culture. Furthermore, treatment options for strep throat are antibiotics and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

What are the Similarities Between Diphtheria and Strep Throat?

• Diphtheria and strep throat are two different bacterial diseases in humans.
• Both diseases may cause similar symptoms, such as respiratory tract problems, tiredness, etc.
• They can cause complications.
• Both can be diagnosed through physical examinations and laboratory tests.
• They can be treated through specific antibiotics.

What is the Difference Between Diphtheria and Strep Throat?

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the bacterium that causes diphtheria, while Streptococcus pyogenes is the bacterium that causes strep throat. Thus, this is the key difference between diphtheria and strep throat. Diphtheria affects mucous membranes of the nose and throat, whereas strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils. Furthermore, diphtheria spreads through airborne droplets and contaminated personal or household items, while strep throat spreads through respiratory droplets created when talking, coughing, or sneezing.

The infographic below presents the differences between diphtheria and strep throat in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

FAQ: Diphtheria and Strep Throat

Is diphtheria caused by streptococcus?

No, diphtheria is not caused by Streptococcus. The bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes it.

What is the species of Streptococcus that causes throat infection?

Streptococcus pyogenes is the species that causes strep throat.

How do you diagnose diphtheria?

Diphtheria can be diagnosed through physical examination and laboratory culturing.

Summary – Diphtheria vs. Strep Throat

Diphtheria and strep throat are two different bacterial diseases in humans. Diphtheria normally affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, while strep throat makes the throat of the people feel sore and scratchy. Moreover, diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriaum, whereas strep throat is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes or group A streptococcus. So, this summarizes the difference between diphtheria and strep throat.

Reference:

1. “Diphtheria: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Strep Throat: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” WebMD.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Diphtheria” By Sue Clark (CC BY 2.0 DEED) via Flickr
2. “Strep Throat” By Mp3car – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia