How are the symptoms of GERD different from strep throat?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 20-year-old female with a height of 5 feet and 3 inches and a weight of 132.2772 pounds. I am a nonsmoker and nonalcoholic. Currently, I am taking medication for birth control pills (for acne, 6 years) and Amoxicillin ( last night)

Yesterday I was diagnosed by my doctor with strep throat after telling him I've been suffering from these (major) symptoms:

Sore, dry, itchy throat.
Difficulty swallowing, feeling as though something is 'stuck' - choking feeling.
Swollen uvula and tonsils.
Both redness and paleness in the mouth.

As soon as he looked in my mouth, he confirmed the disease, but I accidentally forgot to tell him a few other (minor) symptoms, which include:

Occasional, slight heartburn.
Stomach aches.
Throat and stomach gurgling almost constantly (like when you need to burp but cannot, or your stomach acids are going crazy - indigestion)

Now, I am experiencing vague joint pain (mostly spine) and temporary headaches. I have also noticed they can be better or worse when eating/after certain foods. I try not to self-diagnose, but after researching, I found a disease called GERD, and my other symptoms, along with the throat ones, seem to match it. My doctor gave me antibiotics for a fortnight, but if these symptoms persist beyond two weeks, I think I will revisit him and ask him about GERD (or even a more thorough examination.)

I am just wondering if throat-related symptoms concerning GERD could be misleading for strep throat.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your query.

The symptoms you have described are indicative of pharyngitis, which could be of viral or streptococcal origin. Fever and malaise are common features of this illness. Completing the full course of Amoxicillin as prescribed, along with taking antihistamines like Fexofenadine 120 mg and Paracetamol 500 mg twice daily, can help manage the symptoms.

Though chronic GERD symptoms might contribute to a sore throat, they are unlikely to cause body aches and joint pain. If the sore throat is particularly bothersome, you can consider taking Pantoprazole once daily for a few days. It is essential to follow the prescribed medication regimen and seek medical advice if your symptoms persist or worsen.

I hope my advice will be helpful. Feel free to reach out if you have any further queries.

Thank you.